Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It would be important, in the context of our own decarbonisation and our role in decarbonising the wider European Union energy system, to have our own affairs in order and to realise the potential of our renewables. This morning, on "Morning Ireland", Dr. Frank Crowley of University College Cork, UCC, reporting on EU-funded research, was scathingly critical of the Government and, using a term the Taoiseach himself has used, called us laggards and pointed to a failure to engage with the sector. At the same time, Marie Donnelly of the Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC, was on "Newstalk Breakfast" sounding the alarm bells as regards planning, including for offshore and onshore renewables, and the repowering of onshore. Tomorrow we will report the highest offshore costs in Europe. That is reflective of the fact that we have the highest renewables costs generally. Is the Taoiseach aware of and concerned about these alarm bells being rung? Will he outline a plan for investment in ports? Will he bring forward a cost-of-renewables task force? Sinn Féin has published legislation in that regard. Will he outline how he will address those barriers in the planning system?

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