Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. This is a very technical Bill. All of us listening to the Minister of State's very detailed speech would be forgiven for not fully getting to grips with the details of it. I appreciate that he is coming back with an amendment on Committee Stage. All of this is underpinned by the fact that over the past two years the price of electricity and all types of fuel has shot up because of the Russian war and the invasion of Ukraine. In addition, we have not invested in renewable power on a global level as we should have. That is really what is going to bring us out of many of the crises we are in.

It is worth noting that Ireland and Northern Ireland are among the places in Europe with the highest penetration of intermittent renewable - wind and solar - generation, with approximately 39% of domestic electricity in Ireland being served by renewable sources in 2020. We have really ambitious targets. It is difficult to hit our targets across the board when it comes to climate, but we feel our targets are very much achievable when it comes to solar and wind. The Government, the Minister and the Minister of State have been working incredibly hard to put the planning that is required into place and to ensure we have marine protected areas so that we are not abandoning nature. Investing in offshore wind energy can have a lot of value for nature as well because it can preserve areas. We have to make sure the marine protected areas are advanced as a matter of urgency.

It is worth noting that throughout the crisis over the past couple of years, the Government has taken extraordinary measures to ensure people are protected or supported as much as possible. It is not achievable to make up 100% of the costs. In the meantime, we have brought in a package of targeted and broader universal supports, including three €200 electricity credits totalling €600. The ESRI has found that the once-off measures that have been provided for will insulate most households from the rising prices. A household in receipt of fuel allowance this winter is receiving almost €2,000, comprising a €924 fuel allowance payment, a €400 lump sum allowance for fuel, and the €600 in electricity credits I have already mentioned.

The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has met with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU. Senator McGahon and I sit on the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, which representatives of the CRU attend quite regularly. They have outlined the numerous safeguards and practical ways in which they have been trying to support all consumers and households, including pay-as-you-go customers, because that was a real concern. There was also concern about how vulnerable customers would be supported throughout the winter. When we delved into it, we found that "vulnerable customers" did not mean economically vulnerable. This whole topic has been looked at in detail. This category is to be extended to include people who are financially vulnerable and those who are on the working family payment, one-parent family payment, domiciliary care allowance, carer's allowance or jobseeker's allowance for more than six months. All of that is hugely welcome. Of course we need to make sure people have a steady supply of electricity if they are medically vulnerable. Rising costs mean we must also do our absolute utmost to support those who are struggling financially.

I will use the little time I have left to speak about my own constituency. I am delighted that one of the phase 1 wind projects will be off the coast of County Galway because all of the rest are in the east and the south. It is important to start that transition in the west to get everybody on board. Ireland has the largest onshore wind farm generating 169 MW. Ireland is a leading force when it comes to onshore wind energy. This is part of ensuring the vast quantities are utilised. Up to 80 GW is the potential wind energy available off the west coast of Ireland. That is what we need to start tapping into now. I know from speaking to those involved in the industry that they need to see a trajectory - investment that begets investment, if you like - so that there is a sustainable pipeline of projects covering up to 2030 or 2050 and we are thinking about it in the long term.

I realise that this Bill is necessary. I thank the Minister of State for bringing it forward and for thinking about this from every possible angle. We need to have proper investment in renewables, which is exactly what we are doing.