Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a gap in the logic of many who regularly speak against wind turbines and electricity pylons and deliberately conflate those issues. We have to be clear about the need to develop a modern energy infrastructure and to put forward constructive ideas about how to do so. That is what the Government amendment does. It recognises that important regulations need to be put in place. Senator Cullinane mentioned the Bill the Labour Senators introduced on wind turbines and ensuring they are not erected close to residences. That is fair. As the Government amendment acknowledges, we need strict and comprehensive planning regulations to be applied to wind turbines and electricity pylons.

Senator Mary Ann O’Brien spoke eloquently about the need to ensure there are no adverse health implications. That is recognised in the Government amendment. The infrastructure must be constructed in accordance with the principles of the World Health Organization. There are regulations that must be put in place.

It is very important, however, that we proceed with the plans to develop the necessary infrastructure. Energy policy must be allowed to proceed within the reasonable framework of which I have spoken, and public debate on it must be informed. There has been much ill-informed sloganeering on this issue, which we need to address. The motion raises other issues which the amendment addresses adequately, such as the development of offshore sources. On 7 February the Minister published the offshore renewable energy development plan, which will seek to explore the development of those areas.

It is absolutely clear that we are all in favour of that. We also need to develop our bioenergy sources. That is important. In terms of Grid Link, others have acknowledged the independent panel of experts, chaired by Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness, which is due to report. That is a fair approach to take to develop infrastructure in accordance with the safeguards I mentioned.

The memorandum of understanding is somewhat confusingly placed in the Sinn Féin motion, which then refers to very different issues concerning EirGrid. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, spoke in this House and also in the Dáil about the memorandum of understanding. The memorandum was signed in January 2013 by the Minister and Edward Davey, MP, to send a signal of a shared interest in exploring the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain. At all times the Minister made clear that if the export market was to be developed it would have to be done in such a way that there would be clear, realisable and significant benefits accruing to Ireland. He said that for Ireland to enter any intergovernmental agreement of that nature there would have to be benefits, which would need to include investment, jobs and growth. Senator Mary Ann O’Brien spoke about the cost-benefit analysis that would need to be completed. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has said there are potential benefits including jobs created, community gain, interconnection benefits, co-operation on tax receipts and rates paid to local authorities and a dividend of trade. Significant benefits could be delivered by an intergovernmental agreement for both Ireland and Britain. It could also significantly increase our renewable energy output.

There are very positive aspects to the proposal but, as the Minister said, there are many unresolved issues. Last week he made public his judgment that it was doubtful that the project could be delivered as envisaged, bearing in mind the timeframe of the lead-in to 2020 and the need to meet our targets by then, which would mean we would have to start to develop the infrastructure at this stage. It has been reported that the Taoiseach has said there is still hope that the discussions can proceed, but he has also said it is unlikely that it will be possible to proceed according to the timescale originally set out. That is an ongoing issue but it is separate. The export market is separate to the development of our own energy infrastructure.