Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)

My Commencement matter is about the electricity storage policy framework ten-point action plan, in particular section 4, which promises to establish a stakeholder forum for electricity storage projects. Electricity storage is vital if we are to meet our renewable energy and climate targets. How it is delivered matters just as much as the technology. I will highlight a case of proposed battery energy storage in Newmarket in my area in County Cork. Residents there have never been consulted. Decisions have been made over their heads, leaving them feeling excluded and ignored. Naturally, they are feeling dismissed and unheard. Communities like this are not against renewable energy. Far from it, in fact, but rural Ireland has already carried a huge share of wind farms, pylons and energy infrastructure. Rural communities are not dumping grounds. Projects cannot simply be dropped into towns and villages without engagement, transparency or accountability. Action No. 4 must be more than just a line in a policy. The stakeholder forum must give local people a seat at the table with early consultation, accessible information and real influence on outcomes. Otherwise, projects like Newmarket will only deepen mistrust and resistance.

How will the stakeholder forum be structured to guarantee communities and not just industry are represented? What measures will the Department take to ensure lessons from Newmarket are applied nationally? How will the Department ensure rural Ireland is treated as a partner in climate action and not just a convenient location for infrastructure nobody else wants? The success of our transition depends on partnerships with communities. Rural Ireland is ready to play our part but it must be done with respect, not imposition.