Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)

I welcome the acknowledgement by the Minister of State of the importance of battery storage to our energy system. I am aware of its potential as an alternative source of energy, but what is missing from his reply is any real assurance that safety, regulation and accountability are being prioritised alongside the roll-out.

I am aware of Ireland's electricity storage policy framework and the procurement of 1 GW of new capacity. Where is the framework for fire safety? Where is the requirement for decommissioning bonds? Where is the clarity for local authorities that are granting permission in the absence of proper national standards and guidelines?We now have 21 stationary BESS sites connected to the grid. These are not small pilot projects. They are major industrial installations yet regulation governing them is light touch at best. Even on a flight, you cannot bring a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on an aeroplane because it is likely to explode. Dublin Bus is banning escooters on buses because of the likelihood of explosion or fire. These are not small sites. They are massive. One battery storage site is the size of a 40 ft container and 20 of them will be left lying in a field after their lifespan. There are no decommissioning rules so there is a risk of leakage of lithium batteries into our water supply. The response here today is not good enough. Ireland needs a comprehensive regulatory framework. We need safety standards, environmental protections, decommissioning guarantees and proper oversight. There needs to be a moratorium on the grant of planning until all of this is sorted out.