Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Rural Independent Group for submitting this motion. It allows us the opportunity once again to debate our energy crisis and security. Many of the comments I made last week on my group's motion are also relevant to this motion, but I will try to avoid too much repetition of what I said then. It is on the record and I hope it will be taken on board by those making the decisions.

There are striking parallels between our approach to the housing crisis and the approach to the energy crisis. They are fundamentally caused by the same issue - a lack of supply. Supply is the issue. Basic economics show that if the demand remains the same and supply has been restricted, it will result in prices going up. We have caused that in the housing market by excess regulation and poor planning policy. We are doing that with the energy market as well.

The current problems facing us in energy supply have been caused mainly by a combination of factors which have colluded to make the issue even worse. Obviously, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions placed on Russian energy as a result have restricted supply. The other major contributory factor to this is the fact that we have consistently and continually restricted our own supply of electricity, even though politicians have been aware of the potential for crisis for the past 14 years. Government policy and decisions have made us more reliant on European and UK imports and, therefore, we are more exposed than we should be to events beyond our control. The Government has closed our own peat-powered plants. We have given the Government a proposal on the reopening of those facilities but it has, in the programme for Government, banned the exploration of gas off our coasts and we have no gas storage. We are the only country in Europe with no gas storage.

I would love to see the entire energy supply run on renewable and reliable energy but we have bitten off our noses to spite our face in trying to do it. The cart has been well and truly put before the horse. We have tried to curtail our reliable sources of electricity in favour of unreliable sources which are currently unable to provide for our needs or are unavailable. This needs to change, as a matter of urgency, to meet the demands of the current crisis. We need to ensure we build our renewable energy capability while still ensuring our energy security. That means not moving away from the old reliables until such a time as the new sources are readily able to provide enough reliable energy.

We need to secure alternatives which do not rely on the behaviour of foreign governments or volatile political situations abroad. The Government and previous governments have allowed ideology to prevail ahead of pragmatism when it comes to energy. The problem, in a nutshell, was illustrated by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, last week in the debate on the Regional Group's motion when he steadfastly refused to consider opening Derrybrien to provide additional power, for fear of upsetting the EU. I would be more worried about upsetting the business owners up and down the country who are and will be hit with colossal energy bills. It will drive businesses to close and people out of work and householders will be hit from all angles. The worst case will be job losses.

What is our priority? We are a sovereign nation or, at least, we should be. We should be free to manage our own affairs in times of crisis which means doing what is best for the Irish people in the national interest. Furthermore, not one port in this country is ready to construct offshore wind farms. Rosslare has been deemed the most suitable port, but not one penny has gone from this Government's coffers to justify and join the dots. The Irish taxpayer has not committed one penny to Rosslare Europort for the advancement of electricity.

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