Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, into the House. I agree with Senator Higgins with regard to the public transport provisions. I am aware of the measure introduced by the Minister for reduced fares for younger people, which is very welcome, but it should go further. It represents a good start. I agree with Senator Higgins that if we introduce a 20% reduction in the cost of public transport, we should keep that reduction. I am not an expert on inflation, but if we reduce it by 20% now and then choose to increase it in January, a 20% increase - or as it would then be a 16.7% increase - will actually contribute towards inflation in January. I would like to see this be allowed to continue.

I certainly agree with some other points. The fuel allowance is a targeted measure, and the measures in the budget also must be welcomed. The lump sum in March has to be welcomed. I agree with a lot of the comments made by colleagues but maybe we could broaden some of the debate. We are going to see a lot of price volatility around electricity over the coming years. It is not just because of some of the geopolitical concerns, but also because we will see a rise in electricity demand. If we are to see the electrification of transport, which is something I support, this will lead to a rise in demand. If we are going to look at green hydrogen, which we must focus on, this will also require through electrolysis renewable electricity to be used. We are going to see a move out of fossil fuels, which is welcome, but this too will present some of its own challenges around demand. Ireland must ensure it has the necessary supply as a result.

There are a couple of questions that need to be asked. One is around the planning process. It takes far too long from the inception of some wind energy and solar energy projects to get them up and running. I am thinking in particular of offshore projects. I worry that some of the measures being announced are welcome in the short term but we need to start to think about long-term electricity demand and how we can ensure the supply is there, or else we will be constantly dealing with issues around energy prices.

The Minister might be able to answer another concern I have with regard to reviews at European level of the EU wholesale energy and power market. I am aware that Spain has been expressing concern, as a member state, that essentially we are selling cheap renewable energies on that market at roughly the same price as, or in some cases even costlier than, fossil fuel-produced markets. I struggle to understand why Ireland is not as supportive as it could be in that regard. There was evidence last October of Ireland opposing some of the electricity market reforms. It would be welcome if we could look at the European energy market to see how we can ensure there is an incentive for that renewable energy to be produced.

My final point is slightly tangential, but it is relevant because it is around the research into renewable energies, how we reduce some of these costs in the long run and Ireland's membership of CERN. Ireland is one of only three European countries that does not have any real relationship with the world's leading physics research laboratory, which is looking at all of these areas of new and renewable energies. If there is one thing we should have learned from the global pandemic it is that to get us out of some of these challenges, we must co-operate with other countries. Similarly, when it comes to ensuring we tackle the climate crisis, while at the same time ensuring we continue to have a reliable supply of good renewable and clean energy, we must co-operate at a global level. This has been spoken about for far too long but I believe that as a measure to ensure we play our part in global research into cheaper but more environmentally friendly energy, it is essential that the Government indicates very clearly that Ireland will join CERN. I support the measures announced today.