Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Keogan, Mullen and McDowell for bringing this motion forward. To be honest, having looked through the text of motion, it seems to be a collection of things and I am unsure why they have all been put together. I refer to aspects such as turf, data centres, LNG and nuclear power. I will discuss the issue of nuclear power specifically, but this seems to be a collection of controversial issues that have all been put into one motion. While I appreciate having a discussion on nuclear power, because I think it is of interest to people, I do not think it was helpful to join all these things together. I say that because this is a serious topic. No data centres have been connected to the grid for two years. The Minister has already outlined this aspect and representatives from EirGrid have been in to discuss this situation. It is a concern for people because a legacy exists in this regard. For two years now, however, we have not had a data centre connected to the grid, and we now have a strategy where companies have to bring with them some benefits for Ireland and to offset some of the energy used and to make it more sustainable. Therefore, it is extremely important to communicate the facts in this respect.

Some 18 months ago, no one would have thought that floating offshore wind facilities would have been a reality. It would have been seen as a pie-in-the-sky approach. That was what the representatives of the energy industry were saying then, because it was so untested. Now, though, this is the technology we are investing in. It is the same with green hydrogen. Not that long ago, people would have said this was a power source of concern only to academics, but it is now a genuine possibility. A solid group is working on this technology in Galway. It involves representatives from the Port of Galway, CIÉ, EirGrid and SSE Renewables and the National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG, working together on a hydrogen hub. It would allow one of the most successful wind farms in the country, the Galway wind farm, to use its excess energy by putting it into producing green hydrogen. We could then start to power our buses and our ferries in Galway and be innovative in how we use that green hydrogen power source.

There are many such innovations and this is why it is important to have conversations around the topic energy. I completely understand this perspective. There is also a point, though, at which governments must decide on things and what to invest in. In this context, the generation of nuclear energy is prohibited. I see from the Senators' motion that they wish to change this policy. The Government, however, does not have plans to revisit this ban and this is appropriate for all the reasons outlined by the Minister.It is far too expensive. It is wrong for Ireland's size. Huge planning implications have been outlined by others. It is hard enough to get something over the line when it comes to renewables which do not have that impact. People worry about nuclear power. It makes no sense. It is not only the building of the infrastructure but producing energy from it is four times more expensive. I do not buy the argument that it should be open-ended, indefinitely. We need to make decisions as a country and for the sake of the industry. We need to be really clear that Ireland wants to invest, and wants investors to invest in renewable energy. That is where our focus is. It is completely right and proper that we say that we have no plans to revisit the ban on nuclear power. We also introduced a ban on the exploration and extraction offshore oil and gas and there are no plans to revisit this ban, which is also mentioned in the motion.

In regard to liquefied natural gas, LNG, the programme for Government and the recent policy statement include a clear statement on LNG and the importation of fracked gas. Ireland does not support LNG or LNG infrastructure, and does not support the importation of fracked gas. This is not open for redebate.

The proposed regulations on solid fuel will prohibit the sale of smoky fuels throughout Ireland in response to the serious impacts on air quality and people’s health that arise from smoky fuel. There will be no change to turbary rights. Those who have turbary rights will not be impacted by these regulations. It is the responsibility of honest, decent politicians not to cause fear among people about this. There has been some fear, so I want to be really clear. We need to do whatever needs to be done to protect people. However, we also need to protect those who are dying. Literally thousands of people have died while governments and past Ministers have refused to take the necessary steps. I want to be clear about that. It is my obligation to say that and put that on record. That does not take away from the fact that a great deal of work has been put into this motion. However, I would argue that if we really want to be brave and think outside the box, we should look at all the other innovations. Let us look at all the things that are now possible but were not possible 18 months ago. Nuclear and many of the things mentioned in this motion are long in the past and they are almost prehistoric in terms of energy innovations we are seeing. I will support the Government's countermotion and vote in favour of it.