Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

Let us look at the facts. We all agree that the targets were always going to be challenging but we are still focused on doing our level best to achieve them. Certain sectors have done significantly well. If we look at energy industries, there is a 21.6% reduction in emissions while it is 4.6% in agriculture, 7% in residential and 5.8% in industry. Transport emissions did increase marginally by 0.3% but emissions are now 4.3% below 2019 pre-Covid levels. We are seeing things going in the right direction but not fast enough. There are things that we can do. If we look at renewable energy, there is the 80% target to 2030. That is a significant target, even the EPA projection is that we will be at 68% of our energy. Let us be frank about it: the offshore projects have been delayed, probably by another 18 months, because of decisions that have been made by An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála is there to make those decisions. I am not criticising it. That is just a reality. We cannot ignore that. There is still a commitment to deliver those projects. We have got to see the offshore renewable electricity support scheme, ORESS, 1 projects delivered and in construction. We will have another auction relating to onshore energy, both wind and solar, later this year that there is significant interest in. We are a leader in Europe in onshore renewables. The same will happen with offshore renewables. It is unlikely that all those east coast wind farms will on the grid in 2030 but they should be under construction but if it is in 2031 or 2032 that they are on that will still be a good thing. If 68% to 72% of our energy is being created by renewables even by 2030, that will be significant progress. That will not hit our target but that will be going significantly in the right direction.

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