Seanad debates

Tuesday, 5 July 2022

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome to the debate on this very important legislation. As my colleague, Senator Murphy, has said, the issue of energy security and supply is one that will be critical. The backdrop to this debate is the words and comments of the European Commissioner, Ms Mairéad McGuinness, who raised the prospect and possibility of fuel rationing in the winter. Regardless of whether she is right, there is an obligation and need to have that discussion to assure people in Ireland of our energy security.

Senator Murphy correctly said there is a balance to be achieved in terms of the move from dependency on fossil fuels to a new type of energy security and supply. We have to be conscious that the majority of our gas supply is coming via a pipeline from the UK and mindful that we do not, as far as I know, have any gas storage facilities or a LNG terminal in this country. This potentiality raises all sorts of outcomes of which we must be cognisant. The publication date of the report on energy security supply is imminent or may be due. CEPA was commissioned to do that report and to be fair to the Minister of State, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and other Ministers, it is a priority for Government. I accept and appreciate that.

I will raise the issue of the Barryroe field, which was raised at the annual general meeting of Providence Resources last week. The company may submit an application to drill a new well off the Cork coast. Providence is telling us this could assist with our energy security. I hope the Department will engage with Providence on the Barryroe field. I have no vested interest in this matter, other than wanting to ensure a continuity of supply. We benefited greatly in Cork, during what I accept was a different time, from the Kinsale field. Natural gas from Kinsale benefited the modernisation of our country in the context of energy supply and security.

It would be remiss of me not to refer to the decision of Electric Ireland to raise prices for the fourth time in a year. The ESB has increased the price of electricity by 11% and the price of gas by 29%. This is the second time the company has raised prices in 2022. There is a question mark around whether the ESB will increase prices again. What is its rationale beyond what the company has already done? Why are price increases being countenanced given that we are in an energy crisis? I ask Electric Ireland and the ESB to explain the reasoning for these increases to the people of Ireland. I say that in the context of the measures taken by the Government to mitigate the higher costs of energy being incurred by people.

The retrofitting scheme is not necessarily part of this debate but it is important that we look at how it is working. We also need to look at public transport fares. I listened to the discussion on "The Late Debate" the other night when the eminent commentator, Mr. Gerard Howlin, spoke about the Green Party in Government having a clear focus and clear policy objectives.All of us, in the context of the modal shift in the car which has been assisted, unfortunately, by the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, are looking to public transport. We all accept that public fare reductions should be extended. We all welcome the commitment of the Government to the BusConnects programme, whether it is Dublin or Cork.

There are contentious issues around that which we accept and we can park that for a moment, but it is important that every effort be made to have public transport fares as low as possible. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, is very committed to that. In Cork, we now have a new 24-hour bus service which is changing behaviour more than one could ever imagine. I am fortunate to be on a 24-hour bus route which is absolutely brilliant. I have spoken to people in the last week or so, when I have been out doing leaflet drops and meeting people, who are making decisions about what journeys they will take, how they will take them and where they will go. That has a potential knock-on effect in a social aspect as well.

We are coming to the end of the leaving certificate and heading into the issue of school holidays and third level holidays. I hope that as part of the budgetary process and academic term, we try to make the fare reduction in terms of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann, Commuter and DART journeys as great as possible or to make fares free.

We spoke about university education being monumental in terms of the Niamh Bhreathnach-John Bruton Government or Donogh O'Malley with free education at second level. The potential legacy this Government will leave is in terms of assisting passengers, not just with the cost burden in the short to immediate term of the energy crisis and inflation, but in that modal shift. If we want to be serious about incentivising people to move from the car to public transport, Government must be proactive and encourage and assist people, be it with the Leap card or the issue of scheduling and availability of buses or light rail. I am very optimistic about the future of public transport from a Cork perspective with BusConnects, notwithstanding some of the potential issues we will have in the future in terms of land and bus lanes and so on. It is about ensuring that we give people the opportunity to make that conscious decision to move away from dependency on fossil fuels.

The issue of energy security and supply is concerning people. When one hears someone such as Commissioner McGuinness making that comment, it forces people to sit up and think. I commend the Minister of State for the work he is doing in his Department, along with other Ministers. Measures are being taken by the Government which are helping and we should continue to take them. I look forward to and hope that we can have a debate before the summer recess on the budgetary process, because it is critical. The Government has differing views on a myriad of issues but, in particular, on our own energy security.

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