Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House for the debate on this important subject. Everyone is affected by the need for renewable energy. All of the new commissioned studies in this area are good. In line with EU law and our international commitments to reduce carbon emissions, we must ensure we have a sustainable and renewable energy supply. Decarbonising our energy system is our priority and is required by the EU. As well as energy efficiency, securing a sustainable energy supply is a cornerstone of the Government’s energy policy.

It is estimated that between 25% and 30% of capital investment in renewable energy is retained in the local economy. The Minister spoke earlier about 1,000 jobs created by renewable energy in Mayo. We have a beautiful and green country, which the Government acknowledged in its amendment by stating “the Irish landscape is unique in its natural beauty and a significant natural resource in aesthetic, environmental and economic terms, and [...] the construction of any major infrastructural project must take these factors into account.” The Minister acknowledged that as a central pillar of good governance, communities have a democratic right to influence decisions concerning the siting of energy infrastructure projects.

It is also important to state the benefits of renewable energy. In 2007, the EU agreed a new climate and energy target of obtaining 60% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The Government has committed €26 million to research the best options in achieving this target. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, as well as the Minster of State, Deputy Dowds, have stated that if there is nothing in terms of jobs or revenue for Ireland from the memorandum of understanding on co-operation in the energy sector recently signed between Ireland and the United Kingdom, there will be no agreement.

Reports have shown that there is real opportunity to develop wind generation offshore as well as onshore. Given our proximity, the Irish Sea is ideal for the development of offshore wind farms, even with existing technologies. Such projects have considerable cost advantages over existing and planned projects in the North Sea, which are also further offshore and in significantly deeper waters. As conventional energy sources run out, Ireland has an extraordinary opportunity to use its natural resources in a cost-competitive way to achieve energy independence and become a world leader in the use of clean, green energy.

Wind-generated energy exportation could account for 20% of gross domestic product income in the next 40 years. This was pointed out by the environmentalist John Travers in his book Green and Gold: Ireland a Clean Energy World Leader?. We must be ambitious in this regard. Price competitiveness is key to this debate. Ireland imports 95% of its gas and all of its oil. Currency fluctuations, together with transportation costs, were factors in driving sizeable price increases in gas and electricity over the past several years. The Government has taken measures to ensure the customer is protected from higher prices through commercial and residential market regulation, targeted assistance for large energy users and continued support for cost-effective and timely investment in networks.

Foreign direct investment depends on Ireland's maintaining a 100% reliable electricity supply. Like Senator Mulcahy, I thank the ESB crews who restored disrupted power supplies very quickly during the recent storms. The timely and cost-effective delivery of energy infrastructure is important to the country. An analysis is being undertaken of the cost of placing new pylons over-ground versus the cost of undergrounding. A previous energy regulator stated that there would be an extra cost of €2 billion if the new transmission network was undergrounded. The Government will undertake a new analysis of undergrounding, however. The welcome consultation process on the siting of pylons for the developed transmission network has concluded and will now be considered by the Minister. I know of a case in which An Bord Pleanála insisted on the removal of a wind turbine because it interfered with the character of the landscape, as well as having an impact on the archaeology of the area. Any general exemptions to planning are still subject to certain restrictions, which are outlined in SI No. 600/2001. The planning guidelines we have in place are designed to ensure a consistent approach.

The wind we have is four times more powerful than in any other country in Europe. We must be proactive in using these resources. The initial consultation on pylons between EirGrid and local communities might not have been as good or informative as it should have been. Hopefully that will be addressed in the upcoming consultation process.