Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)

I want to raise a serious issue that concerns the proposed battery energy storage system, BESS, in my constituency in Newmarket in Cork. The proposed site is right beside a sensitive ecological area. It drains into a watercourse that connects to the River Dalua and then onto the River Blackwater, both of which are designated special areas of conservation. These are habitats for species of European importance, including Atlantic salmon, yet the dangers posed by the lithium-ion batteries have not been adequately addressed. If a leak occurs, these batteries contain liquid electrolyte, which can react with moisture to form hydrofluoric acid. The potential consequences for the environment, drinking water and community safety are enormous. We have already seen in other countries the risks of fires and toxic contamination from BESS sites. Once such a facility is built the community bears a risk while large corporations reap in the profits. This raises a wider question around how energy infrastructure is being planned and where it is being placed. Rural Ireland is not a dumping ground for projects that would never be tolerated in urban areas. Communities deserve proper transparency, consultation and independent safety assessments before developments of this scale are considered. The voices of local residents, farmers and environmental group should be respected because we need clarity on safety protocols around these sites, the environmental safeguards and who will carry the responsibility if something does go wrong with one of these sites. This is not about being anti-renewable or anti-progress. Everybody wants the future to be robust. Communities like Newmarket want to play their part in that climate action but not at the expense of their health, their environment and their future. I ask that time be allocated in this House to properly debate the regulation of BESS developments to ensure safety, sustainability and community input are at the forefront.