Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this interesting debate. Security of energy supply is vital for the economy and for society. That supply must be continuous and must meet the everyday needs of homes and businesses. Ireland's energy network compares favourably with those of our European counterparts and maintaining that network must be a priority if we are to continue to attract foreign direct investment.

Given that fossil fuel resources are finite, the capacity to establish a stable and robust supply of energy from alternative and renewable sources is imperative. The renewable energy network must be capable of meeting the needs of the economy and society now and into the future. Ireland is in an enviable position in this regard in possessing massive potential for wind energy, particularly along the western coastline. By harnessing this resource, we can ensure a clean and effective energy supply which will ultimately reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels. Moreover, by developing and investing in these technologies we will be meeting our obligations under the renewable energy directive, which requires Ireland to increase its take from renewable energies by 40% by 2020. Reducing our dependence on imported fuels, meanwhile, has the additional benefit of significantly reducing our atmospheric CO2 levels.

There is an additional potential benefit for Ireland in investing in wind technology, namely, not only to supply domestic demand but to exceed it and thus offer opportunities for export. In this regard, I welcome the memorandum of understanding that was recently agreed by the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, and his British counterpart establishing a commitment between Ireland and the United Kingdom to work closely in harnessing the economic benefits from a mutual trade in renewable energy. The memorandum is a first step in establishing a successful export market for renewable energy which will reap benefits for the State in terms of employment growth and export earnings from the domestic market. The United Kingdom is facing a potential energy shortage by 2015, which presents an opportunity for Ireland. I also welcomed the Minister's announcement in April of an extension to the REFIT 2 scheme, which gives investors until 2017 to assist in achieving renewable energy targets. This creates a positive incentive for investors in the renewable energy sector and will further assist in the achievement of our green energy targets, particularly in the wind energy sector.

I agree that it is important to consider the concerns of local communities when establishing new technologies. Above all, the highest international standards of health and safety, environment and visual impact must be adhered to at all times. In this regard, Government policy includes an imperative for State companies and individuals to engage early and with transparency with local communities and stakeholders in all energy projects. In addition, State companies are mandated to plan developments in a safe and effective manner and to mitigate, as far as possible, the impact on the human environment and landscape.

The wind energy guidelines, which offer advice to planning authorities on a framework for wind energy projects, are under review. I welcome this progress. Much of the technology involved in delivering wind and renewable energy is very new. As that technology continues to evolve and improve, so too should the guidelines in respect of the planning process. There is a great deal of work to be done in this area and a balance must be found in terms of minimising the impact on local communities and the environment. The potential of alternative energy to reduce our over-reliance on a finite import resource is substantial. That will be an important consideration in devising an energy policy that is capable of meeting the demands of our economy and society into the future. There is much to be gained from exploring the opportunities that exist in this area. I listened carefully to Senator John Kelly when he spoke about the problems arising from the location of wind turbines on lowlands or in close proximity to buildings. Along the western seaboard, however, there is ample opportunity to build the technology at a suitable distance from residences.