Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Report on Offshore Renewable Energy is comprehensive, and forward-thinking, and sets out recommendations on diverse but connected topics.

Shortly after the publication of the Report, a Memorandum for Government Decision proposing the development of an industrial strategy for offshore wind was brought forward on 9 May 2023. This Memo led to the establishment of a new Offshore Wind Strategy Unit in my Department, and work commenced on the stakeholder-engagement and fact-finding phase of the new Industrial Strategy. The Strategy, entitled Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, was then approved by Government on 5 March 2024 and published on 8 March. This Strategy can be found on my Department’s website.

Aligned with Recommendation 9 of the Committee’s Report, one of the core pillars in Powering Prosperity focuses on building capacity and capability along the offshore wind supply chain. By developing a domestic supply chain, supporting Irish companies exporting globally and attracting new Foreign Direct Investment in this space, it is expected that new or additional jobs will be created, as well as other economic benefits. Indeed, the ten ambitions in Powering Prosperity include the following:

1. To develop an innovative enterprise ecosystem, with indigenous and multinational companies, that will provide world-leading service to the offshore wind sector.

2. To dramatically scale up the enterprise base that will service the offshore wind sectors in Ireland and around the world.

3. To deliver up to 5,000 jobs in the offshore wind and related industries.

4. To maximise opportunities for companies and investors to develop a vibrant and successful supply chain.

10. To transform Ireland’s regional capability, and deliver opportunity for the people of Ireland, throughout Ireland, by developing industrial hubs and balanced regional economic growth.

I would also like to highlight the cross-Government engagement, which has been deepening since the publication of the Committee’s Report. The Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, which is chaired by my Ministerial colleague, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, T.D., brings together key stakeholders across the Government system in order to accelerate and drive delivery and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland. My Officials currently lead Workstream 7 under this Taskforce, which is focused on realising a successful supply chain.

I understand there is an upcoming Dáil motion on the Committee’s Report (currently scheduled for 2 May) and a more detailed statement will be provided at that time.