Dáil debates

Wednesday, 8 March 2023

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

5:07 pm

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is saying we cannot include the sunset clause because it is needed until 2027. This Bill relates to the EPA assessment. The EPA will do that assessment once. We were told very clearly that the assessment would have to be conducted within a couple of months. The EPA will have done its job. It will have used the provisions of the Act and done the assessment in an expedited manner. That will be completed by the end of the year. I do not know why the Minister thinks he needs this legislation going forward. The EPA will have done its job.

On the Minister's point about the two sites, whether there are two sites or expanded sites, the question for me is more about capacity. We are talking about 450 MW. Is there potential for an additional 450 MW being provided on those sites? I am interested in the Minister's response to this. Using the Shannonbridge or Tarbert sites, can additional generating capacity be added using the provisions of the Eirgrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Act 2022 and this Bill? Could the EPA do another assessment on the additional capacity?

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