Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Beidh mé gasta. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus gabhaim buíochas leis.

Our offshore environment is an immense resource. We have one of the largest coastlines in the European Union, as Senator Coffey mentioned. At present this resource is completely under utilised in terms of what it could fulfil. Other states with much less sea area are miles ahead of us.

Taking in the exclusive economic zone which the State is entitled to develop, the territory available extends 200 miles out to sea. In terms of renewable energy, the potential alone of offshore development presents immense opportunity, but it is virtually non-existent at present. We have one off-shore wind farm. We have a very convoluted planning regime for offshore projects, which must go through multiple consent bodies and we have little drive to change this. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment produced a document back in 2014, the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan, which outlines some of the potential in this State in terms of offshore wind, tidal and wave energy that could be supplying the State with clean renewable energy and increasing our security of supply. In particular, there are much more possibilities in offshore wind than onshore wind. With onshore wind, we do not have communities onboard to develop it. Other states have large community involvement. I acknowledge that the Minister referenced this in his contribution and is seeking to go some way to address it. There has been no movement on the document overall since 2014.

Our renewable energy outlook has been one dimensional and short-sighted. Planned reform for offshore projects has been promised but not delivered. We only have the heads of the maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill. The heads have been approved since 2015, but we are simply not taking the area seriously. We see a piecemeal approach, with an insertion into the planning and development Bill, which does these very complex processes no justice at all.

Scotland, with a similar population to this State has extensively developed its offshore resources. It has many offshore wind projects, including the world's first floating offshore wind farm. It has also streamlined its offshore consent process through the body, Marine Scotland. There are other examples in Denmark and Germany, which have much less coastline and from which we could learn. We should be streets ahead of where we are.

We have not developed the offshore resources. It beggars belief that there is still no movement on this issue. All developments must be balanced against the highest environmental protection measures being put in place. What offshore development has been conducted has been in fossil fuel extraction and we are all aware of the poor deal this State has got from it - one of the worst deals in the world.

I am conscious of the time and I wish to give the Minister the opportunity to respond to my colleagues and me.