Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is money that can be used to provide an alternative to carbon, which is the Government's stated intention. However, what is happening on the ground is that there are farmers groups across the country that are willing to develop the biomethane sector. They are begging for support. There was an opportunity to get it from the European Commission and the Government did not avail of it. We are told that wind, particularly offshore wind, is the answer. Ireland is the country in Europe that is most suitable for producing wind energy. At the moment, we produce 24 MW of offshore energy. Scotland, by comparison, produces 1.9 GW - or 1,900 MW - and is hoping to increase that to 11 GW by 2030. We have recently upped our 2030 target from 5 GW to 7 GW. Any international investor is going to look at our track record to date in determining whether to invest. Our track record does not match our rhetoric.

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