Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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95. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that with Ireland's high level of dependency on energy imports, in excess of 90%, this country is in a precarious position and vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts due to its high reliance on imports of fossil fuels; his further views that there is a need to be more self-reliant as is the case with other European Union countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31764/15]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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My question is to ask the Minister of State his views on Ireland's high level of dependency on energy imports, in excess of 90%. We are in a precarious position and are very vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts due to this high reliance on the import of fossil fuels. I ask the Minister of State to examine our need to be more self-reliant, as is the case with other European Union countries.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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We dovetailed into this question in the previous one.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Yes.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Two creative minds are a dangerous thing in the House. I thank the Deputy for the question. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A well-balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility is essential to Irish consumers. While fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix as we transit to a largely decarbonised energy system by 2050, significant progress is being made in increasing the share of renewables in the mix. Provisional figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, for 2014 indicate that energy import dependency fell to 85% in 2014. This was driven by lower demand for coal, oil and gas coupled with increased indigenous production of energy. The bulk of the increase in indigenous energy was from renewable sources and the remainder from peat.

In summer 2014, the European Commission, under the European energy security strategy, carried out stress tests in the event of a Russia-Ukraine gas disruption. This stress test was co-ordinated for Ireland by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. The results showed that Ireland was likely to be one of the countries that would be least likely to be adversely affected. The results also showed that, in the event of such a disruption, gas prices would be likely to increase. The European energy security strategy also proposes to increase energy production in the EU and to diversify supplier countries and routes. Energy security is a key pillar of the European Commission's recently published European energy union strategy, which Ireland strongly supports.

In Ireland we have a policy framework that is incentivising both an increase in indigenous renewable energy and the exploration and production of indigenous non-renewable fuel sources. Both of these energy sources contribute to reducing import dependency. Meeting our renewable electricity targets will require the delivery of critical grid infrastructure and the construction of additional renewable electricity generation capacity.

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There are a number of other important measures which also enhance our energy security such as EU funding for infrastructure, EU legislation that promotes co-operation on energy security, energy demand reduction measures, good emergency planning and oil storage reserves.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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There is no doubt that we have a very high dependency on imported fossil fuels and I saw a figure of €6.5 billion that we are spending on it. We are very vulnerable and are at the mercy of international markets and prices. We saw what happened to Ukraine with its reliance on natural gas from Russia. Over the weekend I read a story about a green plan by firefighters at the fire station in Kilbarrack who are using old batteries. The green plan was applied to every station in Dublin and has generated €7.5 million in public sector savings. Dublin Fire Brigade has cut its energy consumption by 44%. There is the creativity coming in. We should take those examples and see them as urgent, and examine making more carbon-neutral workplaces. We are very energy inefficient in this country.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is not in a position to solve all our energy issues in isolation and we have no intention of doing so. We are part of the European Union, a collective grouping of countries with the same sense of responsibility. Whether it is EU funding for infrastructure or EU legislation that promotes co-operation on energy security or energy demand reduction measures, we must work together. It is critical that we continue that co-operation and we cannot be exposed. Although I am very conscious that we are an island, we are also connected in other ways, be it at European Commission or European Parliament level. My colleagues in the European Parliament are very focused on energy security issues. There is an electorate in this country that is very genuine, sincere and passionate about climate change and, politically, we must tap into that new energy - pardon the pun - and vibrancy in a young, smart, intelligent electorate that wants to contribute to meeting the challenge.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I was struck by the fact that three years ago Denmark was able to export energy after securing all its own needs. I want to put the issue in the broader context of climate change. We are moving into sustainable development goals and Ireland has been playing a very strong role at EU and UN level. However, we are giving with one hand - and we have a very strong reputation regarding development aid - but taking with the other unless we address the climate change issues and tackle our emissions. As well as our own energy needs, there is the broader picture for our planet. One of the new sustainable development goals, which replace the millennium development goals, is about seriously tackling climate change. We cannot be hypocritical about this, giving all this development aid - and we have a high reputation there - and taking on the other hand because we are not supporting measures to combat climate change.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I can blame myself for introducing climate change into the question. The Deputy is right. It is important and it is a wider context within the climate change Bill, which will be discussed in this House and the Seanad. There must be an integrated departmental approach. I recently met a group in Letterkenny regarding climate change and energy security. As legislators, we are faced with difficult decisions. We must use our place at a global level, and Ireland can do it, as the Deputy correctly pointed out, at a UN and European level. We are doing it, and we must use our strong voice in these different corridors to push for an overall global, European approach to these very challenging issues.