Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. We now have an opportunity to debate this important issue of transmission lines and the more developed counter motion from the Government which speaks about transmission and distribution infrastructure and the need to ensure the provision of developed infrastructure. One must confess that transmission and distribution electricity infrastructure is not the sort of topic that tends to set the world alight initially, yet, of course, it is a hugely contentious problem if we do not have the adequate infrastructure in place to secure the level of economic and social development we want to achieve.

The recent water problems in Dublin and other areas have shown the effect and consequence that years and decades of under investment has on vital infrastructure and how it impacts on business and domestic households. We need to ensure that we have an adequate energy infrastructure just as much as we need to ensure that we have an adequate water infrastructure. An inadequate infrastructure for energy and water poses an obstacle to job creation and the economic development of regions, particularly in regions that were badly served in the past and are a significant distance from urban centres. There will be serious consequences if we do not role out a modern energy infrastructure. We are likely to hold back economic recovery. We are also likely to prevent and hamper the development of job creation.

With regard to energy, there is the added impetus due to the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, particularly imported ones. There needs to be a major investment in infrastructure if we are to meet the international target of a 20% reduction by 2020.

For some years I have worked with Friends of the Earth Ireland on climate change legislation and I am glad that the Government is committed to introducing legislation on climate change. The previous Government had committed to doing so but failed.

In 2007 I introduced a Private Members' Climate Protection Bill in the House which sought binding climate control targets to be implemented by the Government and future Governments. It is great that we will finally see legislation put in place that has been agreed to after extensive consultation and will set targets.

We must be mindful of the practicalities necessary to reach the energy targets. We must ensure that we have the infrastructure in place that will use our natural resources to generate an adequate amount of energy, particularly wind energy which Ireland has, potentially, in abundance.

I support the Government's amendment. I also commend the Government on its ambitious plans to deliver on energy policy priorities. I particularly commend it on delivering an investment in the energy infrastructure that was needed in many regions in order to move forward.

The Minister has not spoken yet but I am sure that he will speak about EirGrid's ambitious development plan called Grid 25. The plan was noted in the amendment which states:

the Government does not direct EirGrid to particular sites or routes or technologies but the Government does expect EirGrid, in making choices on such matters, to take account of all relevant national and international standards, to follow best practice and ensure value for money and to be informed by detailed consultation at local level.

I shall focus on the consultation issue in the time allocated. As I said, the EirGrid investment is very ambitious and amounts to €3.2 billion. It will involve 800 km of new power lines and the upgrade of 2,000 km of existing lines. In other words, the current grid will double. It is a very ambitious project but it is necessary in order to ensure adequate economic development takes place. It will also ensure that we are not hampered when it comes to job creation policies, particularly for regions outside of urban centres.

What process will be employed to carry out such an ambitious and necessary expansion? This where consultation becomes important, particularly in the context of the motion. It was written in the spirit of a need to ensure consultation, although consultation was not mentioned. I think that was an omission because consultation is very important and there is proof of that in local areas all around Ireland.

We have in place a process that allows for the necessary consultations to be carried out at a local level. The planning process is a framework that will ensure that all of this major work is done with extensive consultation. We have seen this already in some of the plans that EirGrid has rolled out. For example, the Grid West project is worth €240 million and provides a link between Mayo and either Roscommon or Galway. The investment will result in significant job creation in the region.

Last October EirGrid announced the details of an emerging preferred route corridor. It has held a series of open days which engaged over 1,200 people. EirGrid will continue to engage with the public to find the best route. Clearly, the proposed route for the transmission line and the route corridor are contentious issues in certain areas. At the same time we need to see a process put in place that enables consultation at local level and allows for the infrastructure to be developed as needs be. All of that must be done in a consensual manner and with local communities, as far as possible.

Another example is the new Grid Link project that proposes a €500 million investment in the south and east regions to re-enforce the transmission network linking Leinster and Munster. The project is necessary in order to ensure that we meet energy demands in the south east. Over the years, even at a time of boom, many people rightly complained about inadequate energy facilities and supplies in different parts of Ireland. We must bear that in mind when examining the matter. I have plenty more to say but I am almost out of time.

Colleagues will be aware that Grid Link has already held 33 public information open days, 12 open days in the project area and over 2,500 stakeholders were involved. The framework is in place for extensive consultations and many local communities and different stakeholders have been involved at various stages of the process.

I wanted to say a little more on the health and safety issues that Senator Cullinane and others raised but I am running out of time.

I am glad the Government has given a strong commitment to developing natural resources, particularly wind energy, which is also important at an international level. We have all seen the horrific tragedy that took place in the Philippines recently. Therefore, we cannot deny the impact that greedy consumption in the developed world has had on developing countries and climate change internationally. That is the context in which infrastructure development is being carried out here. The investment will also enable us to meet our carbon reduction commitments and we will have greater independence by relying more on natural resources and less on fossil fuels.