Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Seanad Éireann:

acknowledges that: - to meet our demands for energy and the targets set out in carbon budgets, Ireland needs to generate more electricity while also reducing carbon emissions;

- while the Climate Action Plan 2021 does not list individual targets for each sector, it details emission reductions that are needed from each sector of the economy; emissions from electricity will have to be reduced by 62 to 81 per cent;

- Ireland is very heavily reliant on fossil fuels; approximately 85 per cent of Ireland's energy needs come from fossil fuels;

- Ireland’s import dependency for energy was 67 per cent in 2018, down from an average of 89 per cent between 2001 and 2015; this was largely due to the production of gas from the Corrib field, 52 per cent of Ireland's energy is generated from gas, while wind generated 28 per cent, electricity obtained from other renewables was 5 per cent;

- 70 per cent of Ireland’s electricity is supposed to come from renewables by 2030, it is expected that most of Ireland’s energy will come from onshore and offshore wind fields as well as solar energy;

- data centres currently consume up to 11 per cent of Ireland's electricity;

- the building of data centres will increase Ireland's demand for electricity by at least 40 per cent; some estimates suggest that data centres could consume up to 70 per cent of Ireland's electricity by 2030;

- following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and current sanctions, gas and other natural resources will be more expensive; while Ireland does not import much gas from Russia, the price will go up due to an increase demand from countries implementing sanctions against Russia;

- energy prices were increasing before Russia's invasion of Ukraine;

-according to the Consumer Price Index, since March 2021, the price of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels has increased by +20.9 per cent;

- research conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute found that 17.5% of households were in energy poverty in 2019;

- St. Vincent de Paul, in collaboration with RED C Research & Marketing Ltd, in March 2021, found that 19 per cent of people had cut back on heating and electricity due to cost, including 42 per cent of families of those with an illness or disability; 36 per cent of lone parents also found themselves in a similar situation;

- Ireland is pursing irreconcilable goals by increasing demand for electricity by up to 40 per cent while hoping it can be done with the current renewable energy capacity;

- nuclear power produces virtually zero carbon emissions; it is a more environmentally friendly source of energy that fossil fuels;

- while Ireland should continue investing in renewable sources of energy, electricity generated from nuclear power could help Ireland to meet its long-term energy needs; notes that: - carbon taxes exist as a disincentive, but they can only be effective if members of the public are using more energy than they need; many people across all sectors of the economy who are trying to reduce their energy use and are still struggling to pay the existing charges;

- the fuel allowance is only paid to a relatively small number of households, meaning that many people are not protected from increases;

- the production of electricity for EirGrid by nuclear fission is prohibited under section 18 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999;

- despite this prohibition, Ireland is importing electricity generated from nuclear energy; at least 0.93 per cent of Ireland's electricity in 2020 was generated by nuclear power plants in Britain;

- Ireland currently imports electricity from the United Kingdom (UK) through the East West Interconnector and a lot of Ireland's gas is also imported directly from the UK; Brexit also threatens Ireland's energy security as its full effects are still not clear;

- if section 18 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 was amended, it would be easier for Ireland to import electricity generated from nuclear power even if it was not possible to build nuclear power stations immediately;

- Ireland could import electricity generated from nuclear power from France through the Celtic Interconnector cable after 2026, if section 18 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 was amended;

- Ireland was predicted to become more reliant on non-EU oil and gas as EU supplies decline; Russia is the world's largest exporter of gas and Ireland will be unable to import much gas from Russia due to sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine;

- there will also be higher importation costs associated with gas from non-EU countries; before the invasion of Ukraine, Ireland faced difficulties meeting its energy needs;

- developments in nuclear technology over the last three decades now mean that nuclear power produces virtually zero carbon emissions;

- according to the U.S. Department of Energy:

- nuclear power plants had an average capacity factor of 92.3 per cent, meaning that they operated at full power on 336 out of 365 days a year;

- wind turbines by contrast operated 34.5 per cent of the time;

- by comparison, coal and other fossil fuel power stations operate approximately 50 per cent of the time;

- compared with other sources of energy, nuclear power plants require less maintenance; renewable energy sources often require a back-up energy supply; it would be preferable if the energy for the growing number of winds fields came from a source that generated virtually zero carbon emissions such as nuclear power;

- the average nuclear reactor produces 1 gigawatt (GW) of electricity; based on the capacity factors listed above, 431 wind turbines are required to generate the same level of energy, the average small modular reaction has an output of 300 megawatts by comparison;

- there are not enough renewable sources of energy being developed in Ireland in order to meet our current demands for energy; it is unclear how the current plans are to be achieved as much of the planning around this is being left to the energy sector;

- it is also unclear how or where the extra electricity will come from to sustain the new data centres that will be built in Ireland;

- if Ireland is to adhere to the current targets, a very large amount of space will have to be allocated for wind farms and other renewable forms of energy; where these wind farms will be is unclear; calls on: - the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to submit, within six months, a report to the Houses of the Oireachtas on the following options:

- amending section 18 of the Energy Regulation 1999 in order that EirGrid could use electricity generated from nuclear fission;

- assessing the feasibility of building small modular nuclear reactors to address Ireland’s energy needs;

- the evaluation of revised targets set out in the Climate Action Plan and the Carbon Budgets to reflect these options;

- publishing a ten-year plan for a nuclear programme for energy which will aim to reflect targets set out in the Climate Action Plan;

-assessing the feasibility of freezing carbon tax on households for the next three years (this freeze would not apply to heavy industry, landfills, incineration of waste or similar industries);

- the Minister to make a clear statement regarding the turf cutting rights of homeowners;

- the Minister to make a clear statement about the role of gas in Ireland’s energy needs over the next 10 years and to reconsider plans to discontinue offshore gas exploration in Irish waters;

- the Minister to reconsider opposition to the establishment of any new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Ireland.

The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is very welcome. I was not expecting to see him here this afternoon. I thank him for coming in. It is often said that failing to plan is a plan to fail. What we have at the moment is not so much a plan to fail but a plan for disaster. The plan is to phase out our use of fossil fuels while simultaneously increasing our demand for energy by 2030. At the moment, the bulk of this decision-making is being left to the energy sector. The aim of this motion is to put a stop to this disaster now. After all, we cannot write legislation while sitting in the dark.

The main thrust of today's motion is to address the current hypocrisy regarding our approach to nuclear power. As outlined in the motion, EirGrid is not allowed to use energy generated from nuclear fission, but the reality is that Ireland is already using nuclear energy. Approximately 0.93% of Ireland's electricity in 2020 was generated by nuclear power plants in Britain. This was revealed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI.

I am sure any response today will discuss the dangers of nuclear power, but it is important we establish some facts. The reluctance to embrace nuclear energy seems to be based on an outdated understanding of what nuclear power is currently. It is no longer the 1980s. Concerns which were once valid are now only dead dogma clung to by green activists. It would be remiss of me today to fail to highlight the leaps and bounds that clean nuclear energy has made since the disasters of Three Mile Island or Chernobyl. In part, Chernobyl occurred due to the use of graphite in the nuclear reactor. Today's reactors no longer use this material. At the time, there was also no provision for containment. This has since become the norm for nuclear power plants. Nuclear power produces less radiation than other sources of fuel. In fact, coal plants produce more radiation. Nuclear power produces virtually no carbon emissions. Small nuclear fission reactors such as this Bill advocates for are very efficient. Nuclear power also produces little waste. It is a safe and highly efficient form of energy. Nuclear power plants operate more than 90% of the time, while wind turbines only operate 35% of the time. By comparison, coal and other fossil fuel power stations operate approximately 50% of the time.

There is no doubt my speech today would be longer if we were to list all the reasons nuclear power is safe. Nuclear technology has come on a great deal over the past 30 years. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the attitude towards it by many members of the Green Party. If we do not adapt to nuclear power, data centres are due to consume at least 40% of Ireland's energy by 2030. Some estimates suggest that this could be as high as 70%. In 2018, our energy-import dependency was 70%. The Government has made promises it cannot keep to multinationals and other nations. We need to act sooner rather than later to find a solution.

Deriding nuclear energy at home while importing almost 1% of it from Britain and refusing to amend the current legislation is, as a great man once put it, an Irish solution to an Irish problem. However, it is a solution that plays dice with the well-being and livelihood of most of our citizens, especially those in the private sector who are working from home and whose livelihoods may be threatened by even occasional power cuts. The east-west interconnector is fantastic for Ireland, but Brexit threatens the UK's status as an exporter of energy to Ireland. All going according to plan, the Celtic interconnector cable could provide us with energy from France in 2026 if the Energy Regulation Act 1999 is amended. France might be able to provide us with energy generated from nuclear fission to help meet our needs. After all, France has relied on nuclear power as its main source of energy for years. Simultaneously weaning ourselves off gas while lacking sufficient plans to make up for the shortfall in the energy supply is unconscionable.

The current plan is both insufficient and unfeasible, a point that my colleague, Senator Mullen, will discuss in his contribution later. What is also unconscionable is the pain and suffering Ireland's current energy insecurity is causing and will continue to cause. If an abrupt change of direction in energy policy is beyond us, I ask the Minister at least to consider the human cost of the Government's current approach. Carbon taxes exist as a disincentive, but can only be effective if members of the public are using more energy than they need. Many people across all sectors of the economy are trying to reduce their energy use and they are still struggling to pay their existing charges.St. Vincent de Paul, in collaboration with RedC Research and Marketing, found in March 2021 that 19% of people cut back on heating and electricity due to cost. This included 42% of families of those with an illness or disability and 36% of lone parents also found themselves in a similar situation. It is as if the Government is trying to get blood from a stone by squeezing the most vulnerable in our society. Since March 2021, the price of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels has increased by over 20.9%.

Granted, the Government has tried to address these problems by introducing fuel allowance but this only applies to a few households. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has advised people to take shorter showers and to slow down their driving, quips which sound more like something out of a “Father Ted” quote than political oratory. Yet, while these statements might be funny in a different context, what is not funny is that every year elderly people die during the winter because they are unable to heat their homes. This is something we have known for years, even as the cost of energy has been ratcheting up and, yes, even as Dublin-based politicians sought to ban one of the most common fuel sources for tens of thousands of people in rural Ireland. When we know that approximately 100 companies are responsible for producing 70% of emissions, the approach by the Government in foisting the burden on ordinary citizens seems almost cruel, in order to achieve what will, on a global scale, be such a small outcome. Large multinationals and businesses almost never seem to be the focus. It is always normal people who are paying the price, perpetuating the myth that the issue of climate change can be solved by individualist consumer choices.

The Minister has already said that nuclear energy is part of our future. Despite my criticism of him today, I hope he does consider that to be part of our future. I agree with him. Whether we like it or not, our use of nuclear power is inevitable. Let us not kick the can down the road and leave a worsening situation for future generations but, instead, conduct the review outlined in today's motion and make this happen.