Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We will publish the DMAP for phase 2 this summer and move towards delivering the parameters of the auction by the end of this year. The auction will start early next year. There is likely to be a second phase 2 to make sure we meet the full 2030 targets. At the same time, and there will be no real delay, the next iteration after that will be the move towards the enduring regime and future framework. Our Department is working flat out on that.

To answer the Deputy's question, we see the development of floating offshore as a significant part of the opportunity for Ireland. I recently attended a major global offshore floating wind energy conference in Nantes. I had the great pleasure of meeting many of those working in the industry, including developers and companies involved in that. It is starting to scale up in other jurisdictions. It will have a critical role in Ireland because, as we go into the deeper waters, especially further west and in the north west and south west, we will be going beyond the depths at which fixed-bottom offshore can be done. That will be a critical part of the future.

I am tight on time. None of the issues related to wet storage are technical. Much of that will be answered in the Shannon Estuary task force plan that is due. We will work with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, on a similar approach for the Port of Cork, where we will look at it on a very strategic basis.

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