Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A recent national port study published by Wind Energy Ireland found that Belfast Harbour is the only port on the island ready to construct offshore wind farms. The sector has repeatedly warned the Government that it cannot build 7 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 from a single port. The opportunity that renewable energy affords our island in terms energy security, affordability and job creation cannot be overstated. There is an urgency to all of this so we need a step change in the pace of delivery from Government that reflects the scale of the challenge in meeting the 2030 target.

If the State does not adequately and strategically invest, we will lose high-quality jobs and supply chain business to other countries. We need to invest in our grid, in developing battery storage and the green hydrogen sectors and in reducing the cost of producing renewable energy on the island. The offshore wind delivery task force is due to complete its work by the end of 2023. Its work will conclude with a roadmap. What preparation is being made now by Ministers to act on the task force strategy once published?

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