Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Nobody can deny that we need to move away from fossil fuels. We have the opportunity to do so by using solar on our roofs, which is less obtrusive and does not affect communities at large. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, described it as a roof revolution which would meet many of our targets.

Offshore energy is another area where we are lagging behind. We have the potential to become the new sheikhs of energy in the world by using the Atlantic, but we are lagging behind in trying to do that. Setting up task forces and all of that kind of thing is grand, but in the meantime I know of parents whose children will not look for or get planning permission near wind farms if they go ahead. We will do enormous damage to our communities. When I was in the Department, when we discussed the transition to greener energy we always spoke about the just transition. If the transition is not just, it should not happen. There is a huge onus on all of us to make sure that whatever innovation or new things come into play, they are tried and trusted and communities are not the people who suffer.

See this speech in context