Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The measures and powers proposed by the Minister in this legislation are extraordinary in nature. They reflect the current challenges we face as a consequence of the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine. We must, however, be aware that among the factors that make the introduction of this Bill necessary is the Government's poor policy choices and its failure to invest over the years. Like Deputy O'Rourke, I wish to raise the worries we have about this legislation being rammed through like this. There was no pre-legislative scrutiny or debate, and this seems to be an approach that the Minister and others on that side of the House have taken since they have come to power. This has put energy affordability and security in the precarious position we are being asked to mitigate against. The failure to realise the potential of our own wind and solar resources and the consequent failure to reduce our dependence on imported liquid fossil fuels at pace has also left us excessively exposed to the negative impacts of an energy crisis arising from global events that are out of our hands.

In the Department's statement on this Bill, it admitted that its "main purpose ... is to strengthen the Government's ability to manage stocks in the ... event of a curtailment of oil supplies". It went on to note that the "Bill follows work undertaken by the department last year, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine". Herein lies the problem. The Government has a habit of preparing for potential problems once we are in the heat of these issues. It is the case here because the statement on the website of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications states that "there is also an onus on the government to provide confidence to households and businesses with respect to the security of Ireland’s energy supply". Yet in the same statement, the Department concedes that "it has [only] been testing emergency plans in recent months". This is all but an admission on the part of the Government that it has failed to manage our energy system adequately and that it is now scrambling to address the key concerns raised with it over the years.

We need to deliver adequate gas storage, which has been recommended for years. Has the Government listened? Given that we find ourselves in a situation in which we are now discussing a Bill of this nature, the answer is obviously in the negative. As for the provisions in this legislation, a central aim is to strengthen the Government's ability to manage our stocks in the event of a curtailment of oil supplies. For this reason, the Minister has been given a range of enhanced powers, including the power, when necessary, to control the supply and distribution of oil within the State in an emergency. This is a considerable power to invest upon the Minister. We must for that reason ensure that it is kept under constant review and that the Minister is accountable to the Dáil on the use of these measures. This again indicates how our reliance on liquid fuels has been allowed to continue. Little was done over the years to enable families to move away from kerosene for home heating, for example, while the supports available to get people into EVs are insignificant and only target those who have the financial means to invest in these vehicles.

The same is the case when it comes to retrofitting, which has left out considerable cohorts of people, such as those in old stone buildings, etc. Ireland has a sea area seven times the size of our landmass, and this area has a long-term potential opportunity of generating 70 GW of ocean energy. With innovations in green hydrogen and battery storage, we have an increasing ability to translate our vast resources into clean energy that could be released on demand. Sinn Féin has promoted this policy for years. We have also been pointing out to the Government the need to recalibrate our planning system to assist in the development of our wind energy resources at sea and the adversarial planning system that results in uncertainty in communities and delays as a result. The Government needs to start listening and to not shut out valid voices because it is intent on being the ones in the right.

Effectively, then, this Bill, while necessary in ways, is in large part the direct consequence of poor Government policy and decision-making. When I talk about decision-making, I am not talking about the decisions we are forced to make in the depths of a crisis; I am talking about the Government's poor record in making provisions for the future and for the unexpected. This Bill is the equivalent of a last-minute scramble by a Government that continuously fails to plan and has a record of making demands of the people to put a sticking plaster on its own shortcomings. Sinn Féin, therefore, will support this Bill but we will be submitting amendments to ensure that the extensive powers being acquired by the Minister are reviewed and limited and that he is held accountable by the Oireachtas.

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