James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of energy prices in Ireland. We now have the most expensive non-residential electricity in Europe and we are third in terms of household prices. This is not sustainable from the point of view of competitiveness. I have raised here previously that Irish energy policy is deeply unsustainable. I have seen a growth in solar. with hundreds and hundreds of acres, in excess of thousands of acres now, unfortunately, taking up some of the best agricultural land in our country. I would like the Cabinet committee to look at this issue because it is not sustainable to have an 80% target for renewable energy by 2030 while also expecting a 40% increase in energy generation. Ultimately, because of the cost increases in wind, this will be pushed onto solar, which will destroy rural Ireland as far as I am concerned. It is not being built on poor agricultural land, as it is already regulated to do so in France, the United Kingdom, Italy and other EU member states. We have one of the most pro-developer-led strategies in the area of solar anywhere in Europe and I want to raise this matter. I have brought nuclear into the debate and I know not everybody is in agreement. Deputy Paul Murphy is in the House and he does not agree with me on this but I want to raise it as a matter of discussion. The way we are going about it will increase costs for consumers and businesses in a way that is completely and utterly unsustainable.

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