Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to co-present the Cost of Renewables Taskforce Bill 2022 alongside my comrade, an Teachta Darren O’Rourke, especially at a time when many of our citizens are worried about keeping warm and about the cost of heating, as are businesses across the island. Our people need the hope that comes from good, practical action, like the action we are proposing in this Bill. Renewable energy is vital as we work now to protect humanity on this planet, which is our only home.

Unfortunately, in Ireland, the cost of producing renewable energy per megawatt-hour is much too high. In fact, it is one of the highest in Europe. Therefore, we need to examine immediately why this is the case and address it as quickly and fully as possible. There is no time or money to waste.

The Bill involves a task force to make this happen. This task force will work across Departments and include stakeholders within the industry, consumer organisations and advocates to combat energy poverty. Crucially, its operation is time critical. Within six months, it will deliver its policy recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to reduce the cost of producing renewable energy per megawatt-hour. Since renewable energy is the way to go, the cost of that energy must be sustainable for the consumer of electricity. Our Bill recommends mechanisms to ensure the savings made on the cost of producing renewable energy will be passed on to users. That cost is also central in our capacity to be competitive in the market and to export electricity from renewables successfully and profitably.

In politics, there is sometimes too much talk and too little action while the costs for our citizens rise and our planet burns and drowns. A just transition must be to the fore and it is central to Sinn Féin's green policy. The task force enabled by the Bill will allow for proper action to be taken immediately to address the cost, which is fundamental to production, consumption and export. Aspiration is not enough, and while there is major public support for renewables, the cost problem cannot be addressed by goodwill alone. The Bill creates a focus and will allow for this problem to be addressed quickly and comprehensively.

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