Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the motion, and I congratulate Deputies Pringle, Collins and Connolly on the work they have done to bring this before the House. It is timely that the Government would review fossil fuel investment, especially in light of COP activity. I note the concerns the Minister of State has raised regarding some strategic financial investments, and obviously that is going to require more work. I accept the fact the Government is not opposing this motion.

The motion calls on the Government to support the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. That would be a very formidable step and Ireland should take it. We all have to recognise that. We have listened in recent days to the deliberations at COP28 and about the dangers our planet and future civilisation are facing. Ireland has shown, by being a part of two UN resolutions in the past two weeks, that we can punch above our weight diplomatically. This is something we should look to also.

The direction of ISIF investments in the State is a good sign of State intent, and we need to look at what the Government is doing with regard to furthering our own ambitions on meeting our climate objectives. The Minister of State pointed out in response that Ireland is to chair the International Energy Agency in 2024, and that would be a good opportunity for us to get our own house in order.

I note Deputy Canney's comments regarding onshore wind farms, which have been hugely problematic in the countryside. We need to get our planning right but we are, at present, trying to progress MARA and onshore wind generation off the south coast. That, too, is going to hit many planning difficulties because of the impact, scale and size of these turbines. The licences that are being offered there are purely for pylon-based wind infrastructure. I have raised this a number of times in the House. Why are we not looking at floating offshore, which is moving at pace? We are talking about it being possible off the west coast in ten or 15 years' time, and yet there is offshore floating taking place already in other parts of Europe.

The reason is cost differentials. Over time, they will pale into insignificance compared with the visual and possibly disastrous impacts on areas like the Copper Coast in County Waterford. As a resident of County Waterford, I want to see a move to renewable energy but Deputy Canney mentioned 180 m turbines in County Galway. The turbine height proposed off the south coast of County Waterford, within three or four miles of the foreshore, is 350 m, larger than anything in Europe at present. This policy must be reviewed quickly and other possibilities to tender out must be examined. It is also timely to review our hydrogen strategy, which we have spoken about, and Ireland's ability to become a leading player if we utilise all of the wind resources around the country. We are good at talking about our initiatives but we are not good at progressing them. I was part of an interparliamentary group that went to Germany earlier this year. Germany identified that it will need probably 70% of its future electricity generation to be provided by other countries. Ireland could play a significant part in that. Where is our hydrogen strategy? Where is it laid out? Where have we shown real ambition and vision to develop this as a significant resource? It is sad to say but we will miss the boat while other countries, including the UK, are being proactive in this area.

Beyond that, I raise the issue of carbon sequestration and calculation. I highlighted to the Minister of State a number of times that the EU does not seem able to agree exactly what carbon output is but what it is trying to engender is damaging Irish agriculture. A lot of work is being done on new pastureland additions - the use of different plants to aid carbon sequestration to reduce nitrogen output. I ask the Minister of State to look at that matter with the Department of agriculture.

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