Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I might have to agree with Deputy Carey. We may be dealing with this issue of energy security for quite a time to come. This is another one of these multiple overlapping crises. Obviously, we have energy security issues across Europe with supply, particularly gas, a situation that has been absolutely beyond exacerbated – I am not sure there is a term I could choose that would adequately explain it – by what Vladimir Putin has done by invading Ukraine. This is one of the weapons he has introduced to this particular conflict.

That is a particular issue and it has taken the European Union a considerable amount of time to show a greater level of imagination and to get to grips with the reality. It is only now at this stage we are talking properly about windfall taxes, caps and all the measures that are necessary to mitigate the huge pain that there will be so we can keep the show afloat, which was the idea through Covid, and not accidentally give a win to Vladimir Putin.

We all know we would be in a much better situation on an international basis had greater moves been made to move away from our addiction to fossil fuels and towards a greater use of renewables. We would be in a far more sustainable place regarding emissions and the climate and we would not be susceptible to the situation we are in now. We need the European Union to move better, faster and more quickly. We also need Government to do what it can in relation to that.

Let us also accept we have a generation capacity problem in this State. We had an auction system that obviously did not work and we need to make sure we have something into the future that is better. We had a problem in the sense we did not have the laws, the legislation and the capacity to be able to deliver the backup generators. Therefore, we changed the rules and regulations. There was a huge amount of weaknesses related to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and others and we will have them for next winter – not for this winter. I hope we are not dealing with a severe situation regarding blackouts. We all know the related difficulties and everyone has mentioned the dangers for those who are very medically vulnerable. I know there are certain safety procedures put in place, but we need to look at that grouping we term as “vulnerable” and ensure we all have the necessary protections.

We know the huge issues related to pay-as-you-go customers and the fact they are not protected from disconnections. We obviously need all those pieces in place. However, we have to recognise the absolute failures that have occurred from a point of view of generation. We have to get that show on the road and make sure we do not continue with these sort of disasters.

On making sure we have a fit-for-purpose, sustainable system, it goes without saying that the future is renewables. It is particularly solar and, even more so, wind and offshore wind. The huge delays were mentioned earlier. I think it is 69 weeks with An Bord Pleanála regarding major infrastructural products. That obviously is not going to wash. We know the Attorney General review is ongoing, but we will need, as they say, the colour of his money for whatever changes are necessary to bring our planning laws, regulations and protocols into the modern age in order that we can offer the same sort of planning infrastructure as can be offered across Europe.

That is not to say there is not a huge amount that will need to be done by interacting with communities. Sometimes, when all sorts of developments are done from that point of view, they actually have fewer objections and get to that necessary place faster. We need to make sure that happens.

We also need to make sure we are actually resourcing these agencies. Deputy O’Rourke spoke about the fact we have not filled even those positions that have been offered in the very specific climate unit in An Bord Pleanála. That does not make any sense. We need that to happen as quickly as possible.

There has been a shift change and we are moving in the right direction. The problem is we are behind time and are facing into major issues.

It would be remiss of me not to bring up a particular issue we have spoken about previously, that is, those using communal heating systems. We need a bespoke solution, whether that is the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, or an alternative that provides a reprieve to those companies that is then passed on to residents. I know the Minister of State has an interest in it.

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