Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputies Kelly and Howlin.

I welcome the debate. I am from Cork and I recognise the Port of Cork as strategic infrastructure that could deliver for the island of Ireland in terms of phase 3 projects, in particular, for floating offshore wind. When I look at the maps for the broad areas of interest, three copies of which I have to hand, many of those waters are less than 80 m in depth. I worry that in phase 3, there may not be the ability to facilitate floating offshore in such waters. Will the Minister look again at the broad areas of interest? I fear that if this gives rise to the dedicated marine area plan and, subsequently, the maritime area consents, MACs, and so on, the potential will not be fully realised. Perhaps when the Minister or his colleague responds to the debate, he might speak to that.

I do not think we can set up the offshore wind energy task force without having industry representatives as part of it. I understand the logic of the Government saying we need to keep industry at arm's length on this process, but as an industrial policy, this is quite nascent. It is such an important aspect of policy that I do not think we can do it without having industry in the room. I am fearful that by keeping industry one step removed, we will end up procuring talent and expertise from the PwCs and the EYs of this world and buying it in on a consultancy basis anyway. The taxpayer will be paying a fortune and the consultants will end up going back to industry for advice in the first instance. I am flagging that at this stage. If we are starting on this road, especially in the case of phase 3, we should do it properly and bring industry into the room on that, not least in regard to planning, the grid and examining how the market will operate. Moreover, we should ensure An Bord Pleanála will be properly resourced.

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