Our cost of living crisis is the “canary in the coal mine” for what lies ahead if Ireland’s energy supply isn’t quickly secured, says Mary Lou McDonald.
The Sinn Fein president was speaking today at the first Wind Energy Ireland conference since the pandemic.
Her comments came ahead of a new government framework to secure the country's energy needs as a result of the Ukraine war.
Ms McDonald hit out “barriers to the development of wind energy infrastructure” across the island and called on the Government to tackle delays.
Read More: VAT on gas and electricity to be cut from 13.5% to 9% for six months
“Time and tide wait for no one,” she told those gathered.
“International events, the vicious war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, cost of living crisis and of course the climate crisis all underscore this point.
“We face a massive challenge to counter decades of damage, to chart a new course in how we produce energy to secure a brighter, cleaner future for Ireland and for the world.
“I believe wind energy can spearhead our energy revolution,” she added.
“We know there is no one silver bullet in responding to the climate crisis, nor do we have a magic wand to undo the damage of decades of dirty industry, so our response has to be layered and it has to be strategic.
“The power and potential of Ireland’s natural wind resource can be and will be a gamechanger - one that will drive our country’s emergence as one of the foremost clean energy centres.
To deliver this, she called on the Government to tackle delays in our “not fit for purpose” planning system and “sky high auction prices”.
“Why are Ireland’s renewable electricity prices so high when we have such an abundant wind resource?” she asked.
“In European market auctions, Ireland at €74 per megawatt hour came in at the highest price in 2020 and 2021.
“In no other country did the price break €70 and given that we are talking about locking into 15-year contracts this warrants an immediate and very prcise examination by Government.”
Ms McDonald said she would also like to see renewables applications “prioritised by An Board Pleanala” and Marine Protected Areas designated quickly “to give clarity and certainty to industry, reduce the number of objections while ensuring that Ireland is not only energy secure but protects our biodiversity”.
She also called on leaders to expedite plans to designate a port to support wind turbine development as “Belfast cannot do it alone".
“Government is not doing enough to realise Ireland’s wind energy transformation and to advance a just transition,” said the Central Dublin TD.
“This race against climate change demands urgency, but so too do soaring energy costs and the challenges to Ireland’s energy security.
“Never before has the present and the future politics of renewable energy been so clear, so tangible and so urgent.
“Today the cost of living crisis shows the very real hardship created when workers and families struggle to access affordable essential energy.
“This crisis is undoubtedly the canary in the coal mine - the warning of what will lie ahead for ordinary people if energy generation and supply is not secured for Ireland.
“If we get this right, we can transform not just energy supply and security - we can transform Ireland’s economic model.”
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
