Timmy Dooley
Clare · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I thank both Senators for the amendments they are putting forward and the sentiment behind them. I will deal with the points about the emergency. The Government made it very clear that a decision was taken, based on a decision taken by the previous Government in November 2024.”
“The State has taken a view, however, that is consistent with our desire and our commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and onwards to 2040 and 2050, that this facility is strategic, as it says, that it is only for storage and that it is not meant to be a market play and cannot be a market play.”
“It is, but it is not an either-or situation. If €1 billion could sort it out with more batteries, wind or solar then that is the route we would be taking. We are investing very significant amounts of money in our electricity grid.”
“As the Senators know, the piece of kit – effectively the ship – will be leased in. There are a number of these around the world and they move on. First, we are not investing in the kind of infrastructure that had been a feature of discussions in the past.”
“All fossil fuels are harmful to the environment. The Senator is right that methane has a much higher concentration and is more impactful by what is referred to as the carbon dioxide equivalence. It is much greater than carbon dioxide but it also has shorter life in the atmosphere. It dissipates over time whereas carbon dioxide does not.”
“If we were to do it, however, to get the private sector to pay for the security - I think it is accepted on all sides that there is a necessity for some security in terms of the gas supply - and if the Government were to say it would provide that through a market-led private consortium and initiate an auction to allow entities around the…”
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“Cloud computing and cloud access provide the infrastructure to do that. Data centres are part of that. I do not see data centres as bad things at all. Yes, they are a challenge to us because we have seen underinvestment in our key infrastructure for decades, particularly in the grid and the generation of electricity. We are going through that transition so there are two things happening at the same time. We are trying to transition our immediate demand for energy from fossil fuels to renewable electricity as we are repowering the economy but we are also getting that exponential growth right at the same time as we need that clean energy, with demand driven by artificial intelligence and other advances in the tech sector. It is a particular challenge for us.”
“It is never discussed but if you had individual racks in offices rather than as part of the cloud, there would be a much greater drain on the electricity network. From an Irish perspective, the Deputy rightly identified something when he asked is this the industrial strategy or is this the direction the Government is going and where does our Department sit in it? He raised the point in a careful and balanced way and to some extent, he asked is it data centres or is it cheaper electricity for households? A fundamental part of the capacity of a household to pay for electricity is the requirement they have work. Data centres, whether we like it or not, are part of the direction of travel from the tech sector. More and more people are working from home. That is a good thing and one of the positives that came out of the pandemic, if any did.”
“I am not at all suggesting that is the case in Deputy Ahern's situation but in the minds of some of the public, data centres are part of an infrastructure that is necessary to provide entertainment to a modern generation and that somehow, the nice to have things like Netflix, TikTok or YouTube are effectively stored in these repositories. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Data centres are now what advanced factories were in the 1980s. Ultimately, they are a sharing of filing cabinets that were a feature of Georgian offices dotted around this city and elsewhere around the world. In fact, very significant reductions in energy use are a result of bringing that data management together.”
“The safety amendments will bring all operators of LPG distribution networks within the scope of safety licensing by the CRU and will strengthen the commission's existing powers in regard to gas and LPG safety generally. In 2022, the memorandum of understanding was agreed upon and signed by An Garda Síochána, the Health and Safety Authority and the CRU to facilitate the sharing of information and resources between agencies. On the issues Deputy Ahern raised, there is a fundamental misunderstanding by some of the role played by data centres.”
“I thank Deputies for their contributions. I appreciate the assistance of Members of the House in enabling this minor but important legislative change to be discussed as part of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026. This will enable the Government to expedite a measure which ensures Bord na Móna's future as a vital contributor to our green transition. Deputy Daly raised the issue - we may get to it as part of the second debate on the Bill - about the relationship of the Bill to the tragic incident that occurred in Creeslough. As I understand it, the Bill was not prompted at all by the Creeslough tragedy and at the time of that incident, the CRU had already published its final decision on the regulation of LPG networks and work on this legislation had actually begun.”
“The advice of the New Economy and Recovery Authority, NewERA, was sought. The authority issued a report recommending the increase. The process for consent to this change was in compliance with the requirements of section 8.23 of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies and Bord na Móna's shareholder expectation letter. Deputies may be assured that, following the increase to the statutory limit, any new borrowings on the part of Bord na Móna will require the consent of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. There will be an opportunity to discuss these amendments further on Committee Stage and I thank the Deputies for their support in enabling these important amendments to be debated as part of the Bill.”
“The increase was requested by Bord na Móna to enable the delivery of its ten-year plan and to contribute to the achievement of targets under the national climate action plan. A higher borrowing limit will provide flexibility in how Bord na Móna funds future projects integral to the company's brown-to-green strategy which has seen it conclude all peat operations and emerge as a leading provider of renewable energy and climate solutions. It will avoid the need for large-scale asset disposal, including operational wind farms and development projects. Following the request of Bord na Móna, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation consented to a statutory increase in the borrowing limit.”
“The purpose of this motion is to enable the committee to make certain amendments to the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 which are beyond the scope of the Bill's original subject matter, as I said. The Bill, which completed Second Stage in the House in January of this year, addresses long-standing safety issues with regard to liquified petroleum gas and natural gas and I wish to ask the House for leave to attach amendments addressing another outstanding issue in the energy sector. New sections, which have necessitated this motion, will amend section 22(1) of the Turf Development Act 1998 which sets the statutory borrowing limit of Bord na Móna. This is currently set at €650 million. The amendment will raise this limit to €1.5 billion.”
“I move: That Standing Order 194 is modified in accordance with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee in relation to the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026, that the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill in order to amend the Turf Development Act 1998, in order to increase the statutory borrowing limit of Bord na Móna , and to change the title of the Bill and make other consequential amendments required to take account of the change above. I commend this motion to enable the introduction of the amendments to the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2026 which are outside the scope of the Bill's original subject matter. The amendments address an outstanding issue for Bord na Móna with implications for the green transition.”
“There are also other opportunities emerging in relation to ecotourism and marine ecotourism and to act in support of the offshore renewable activity that is certainly coming into play and that will be there in the next three to five years.”
“I am very conscious of the positive impact that small-scale inshore fishers have on their coastal communities. It is about maintaining, protecting and preserving that from a cultural and historical perspective. I know they are not looking for money. They just want to survive and they would much prefer to do that through fishing and the processing of fish. I am prepared to work with them, and I am conscious of the document. In the context of the work that Michael Berkery is doing and the report from Kieran Mulvey that will be published soon, there is an opportunity for us to work with them over the coming months and years to try to put in place a programme of supports that comply with state aid rules and EU directives and, insofar as we can, retain fishers until such time as fish stocks recover.”
“Rather, it is about the capacity to spend State funds - our own funds - in a way that is not anti-competitive or that runs contrary to the activities of other states. It has to be done in a fair and balanced manner, and those are what are referred to as the state aid rules. I am certainly prepared to look at all potential measures.”
“There are additional supports available through Bord Iascaigh Mhara. These are aimed at supporting both the commercial offshore and inshore sectors by means of the various schemes that have helped fishers to survive through difficult times. Shortly after my appointment, I tasked independent consultant Kieran Mulvey to engage with the entire fishing sector to look to see what potential supports could be put in place. I am awaiting his report, which I expect to have shortly. I expect there will be some recommendations. In light of the significant quota cuts that came about as a result of last December's Council meeting, we brought in independent consultant Michael Berkery to look at how supports could be addressed in that regard. There are significant state aid rules involved. It is not so much the source of the funding that is the issue.”
“As regards to the basic income for the arts sector, the EU state aid basis for this scheme is what is referred to as the general de minimis regulation. This regulation may not be used as the basis for aid to primary producers in the fisheries and agriculture sector, with the specific fisheries de minimis regulation applying to these producers. Income supports to fishers are available from the Department of Social Protection through the specific category of jobseeker's allowance for them known as fish assist. Any inshore fishers who require such financial assistance are advised to contact their local Intreo centre.”
“Our Department has reviewed all funding mechanisms available, either through the seafood development programme or through other state aid routes, to ascertain if there is a possibility of introducing a financial stabilisation scheme for inshore fishermen. It is clear from this review that the EMFAF regulation under the seafood development programme, which is aligned with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, does not make provision for income supports to primary producers in the seafood sector. There is also little scope to implement funding supports of the type being sought by inshore fishers under other existing EU state aid regulations in the fisheries and agriculture sector as matters currently stand.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. I know of his significant interest in this issue. I have met with representatives of the National Inshore Fishermen's Association and other representatives of the inshore sector and am very much aware of the challenges facing the inshore sector. I am also very much aware of the challenges facing the inshore fishery sector as a result of more recent quota drops, changes to their lives and livelihoods and the impact that climate change is having. Ireland's €258 million seafood development programme for the period 2021 to 2027, which is co-funded by the Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund, EMFAF, is the primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector, including the inshore sector.”
“He talked about the necessity to simplify the scheme insofar as we can and get money out to ensure that people get back doing what they are doing and fishing because we certainly do not want boats tied up when there are fish to be caught. That does keep the processors going, and it keeps people coming to restaurants in the localities as well. I thank the Senators for their interest. I hope to be in a position to have greater detail in the very near future and that BIM will be in a position to open up the scheme and we get that money out as quickly as possible.”
“We are supporting those harbours as well through some funding, but those boats would not be there for the nice pictures that get taken when the marine tourism comes along without the hard work of these people who are on a viability threshold. That is certainly not encouraging the generational renewal we would want to see. I come from a small farm. I have seen how that has played out over the years and how things have improved in the agricultural sector with prices. They are stretched again, but there has been a period of reasonable stability there. We certainly can get back to that. Senator Duffy raised some the exact same points about the necessity for flexibility and how we can manage to get funding out to them.”
“We are challenged. That is why I wanted in the early stages to see whether we could put in some supports to protect the regional nature of the activity and the coastal communities that many of these operate in. For many of the smaller inshore fishermen, it is hand to mouth, but it is keeping a couple of processors going as well in the areas. It is keeping restaurants going and it is keeping life in these areas. It is critical to me that this trickle-down effect benefits so many. I am also conscious of marine tourism. Marine tourism is driven by the fact that there is picturesque scenery in many of these harbours, but that picture comes at a price to the people who are fishing. They are providing the backdrop and the entertainment, if you want, and the beautiful vistas we see in many of these harbours.”
“I will see Senator Blaney soon because I will be in Greencastle tomorrow meeting the co-op up there and fishermen generally. We believe they have the paperwork, so that will be relatively straightforward. Senator Collins raised the point - and I take her point that she understands the issue - that this is too little to late. It is as much as we can get. I think we have a good deal for the fishermen, actually. Is it too late? I do not accept that charge because we are backdating this to March, which is when the price shock came into place, and it is onwards to July. It is certainly not too late now. I have to make sure that we get the money out quickly. It is a good deal. That is certainly the response I am getting from the fishermen. I am also conscious that the sector is in trouble, as I think all speakers have indicated.”
“However, there will need to be a recognition that you need to be fishing this year, so we will have to put in place some criteria whereby somebody who finished off fishing last year and is not fishing this year does not get money, because the more anyone in that position gets, the less there is for those who are actively out there fishing. We are trying to be fair. We want the scheme to be simplified insofar as we can, we want to get money out to people who are buying fuel at record prices and we want to find supports. However, in the flexibility we will also have to be conscious that it is taxpayers' money we are spending and it needs to go to those who are impacted and try to ensure they are covered. I take the points Senators Wilson and Blaney have raised.”
“We want to simplify it as best we can. We will open it up, through BIM, to the fishing operators. We know that fishermen keep good records. They have to from the perspective of their tax and for the SFPA. The scheme will be based on receipts for fuel paid, and fishers will all have that because they keep these records. They put them together at the end of the year in terms of their tax affairs as well. I want to ensure that there is some flexibility, that if somebody was not able to operate last year, for whatever reason, we would look at the activity in 2024.”
“It is not that somebody else gets the fish; it is that the fish are not there and, in an effort to conserve the biomass and regenerate the stocks, a conservation approach is taken. That has been challenging, particularly because of the way climate change is impacting fish in our waters, which are moving out of European waters and further north. There is good conservation work going on as well, and I am sure I will be in the House again talking about marine protected areas on the other side of the work I do on the marine environment. I thank Senator Wilson for his comments on behalf of Senator Blaney. They are noted and recognised. He talked about a couple of things, and I know others have mentioned one of them to me as well. It is important we do not have a delay in the payments. We are finalising a scheme.”
“I know Senator O'Donovan spoke on behalf of Senator Boyle, and he made a valid point about the engineering companies and capabilities in Killybegs that have been impacted by the reduced fishing opportunities over recent years. That certainly is challenging. Not long after my appointment, I got permission, with the support of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to take on consultant Kieran Mulvey to look at the entire sector to see how we can best address its concerns and if we can provide some State supports for the long-term viability of the fishing sector, recognising that fishing opportunities have reduced, quite frankly, due to climate change and overfishing, but also that stocks are depleted. Senator Collins mentioned deals in Brussels and quota reductions. Quotas get reduced for a reason.”
“I will try to go through some of the issues that were raised. Senator O'Donovan welcomed the fuel subsidies and recognised that this had a particular impact on certain sectors. Obviously, a lot of the pelagic vessels carried out their fishing effort in January and February, with some in March. The scheme seeks to pick the point at which prices started to escalate, which is March to July. I will come back to Senator Wilson in that regard. The polyvalent and the whitefish sectors seem to have been most impacted as well as, obviously, the inshore sector. A lot of the latter's effort is on shellfish, and we are anxious to try to address that.”
“Liquidity and cash flow may arise as issues in the coming months and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, informed the House last week that he has written to the main banking institutions asking them to show forbearance with the agrifood and fisheries sector where cash flow issues are emerging and to continue to support these sectors during periods of financial pressure with access to the appropriate levels of short-term finance. I support this approach and, of course, I will meet the main banks to explain to them where things are at from the fisheries perspective.”
“It will be based on the activity using oil purchased in 2025, during those critical months of March to July. The scheme will be operated on behalf of our Department by Bord lascaigh Mhara, BIM, which handles most payments in this regard. Payments will be made through a single application process, with funding capped at €15 million for the five months that have been identified from March to July. Timelines will be carefully managed to ensure delivery of these supports as soon as possible.”
“The targeted support package for fisheries and aquaculture will be based on previous usage and will ensure that those most exposed to the increased fuel prices will receive meaningful assistance at this critical time of year. Our Department is finalising details of a scheme which will ensure funding is delivered as soon as possible and, where it is needed, to sustain essential food production and coastal economic activity. I will announce details of the scheme shortly. As with all schemes, there will be eligibility criteria, including, but not limited to, being on the Irish fishing boat register, holding an up-to-date sea fishing boat licence, holding valid crew safety cards, etc. Receipts for relevant fuel and minimum verifiable fishing day activity or sales notes or both to a minimum set amount will also be required to support a claim.”
“It is equally important that we also support our sea fisheries and aquaculture sectors as primary producers. It is the same principle: when input costs rise, it puts pressure on the price and availability of food for all consumers. I know there has been some negative comments in other sectors that suggest this is a bailout for the agriculture, contracting, haulage and fishing sectors. This could not be further from the truth. What the Government is trying to do here is to relieve the pressure on primary food production and transportation to our stores. It is aimed at those who consume food. It is aimed at ensuring, insofar as we can, that the price of food does not escalate in line with the increasing costs of energy. The Government has allocated €15 million of the €100 million to the fisheries and aquaculture sector in supports.”
“The Minister, Deputy Heydon, has already addressed the House on the full removal of all non-carbon excise on green diesel, of 7.4 cent per litre, and a further payment which will provide supports equivalent to 20 cent per litre through a €100-million fuel support scheme. These supports, when taken together, total 27.4 cent per litre and exceed by nearly 6 cent per litre the entirety of excise, carbon and non-carbon, charged on green diesel prior to the conflict in the Middle East. That would have represented almost 22 cent per litre. This means there has been a significant investment by the State above what it takes already from green diesel. This will benefit both farmers and contractors, recognising their central role in sustaining essential agrifood production.”
“The measures introduced by the Government in March 2026, which provided for temporary reductions in the rates of mineral oil tax, MOT, applying to petrol, auto diesel and marked gas oil, MGO, until 31 May 2026, provided some relief for a small number of inshore fishers who purchase their fuel from the pumps. However, the majority of fuel used by the Irish fishing fleet is marine gas oil, which attracts commercial sea navigation relief. This is why the substantial package of support across a number of sectors, including fisheries and aquaculture, is most welcome and most necessary.”
“Last week, I attended the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, which is one of the biggest seafood sales opportunities in the world and takes place annually. I met the 20 Irish processors there under the Bord Bia Origin Green label. They were reporting strong demand for Irish products. Obviously, there is a reduction in available stocks. Irish stock is very well regarded internationally and prices are up a little bit. That is some help but it in no way overcomes the massive increase in oil prices. This is why we have to intervene significantly to assist this important sector in the months ahead.”
“These smaller vessels also use a mix of petrol and diesel in their engines. This is referred to as the inshore sector and it is one I have a particular regard for. It is facing significant challenges and I want to assist and help the sector in every way I can. The Government will do so when it announces the scheme and all the characteristics and details of it. This current crisis exposes the vulnerability of the fishing industry to fuel price volatility. In 2021, the Irish fleet consumed 76 million litres of fuel, representing 12% of input costs. In 2023, the fleet consumed 63 million litres of fuel, and this represented about 19% of input costs. At the current prices, however, fuel is now accounting for approximately 30% of input costs, which is unsustainable. It is a very challenging situation.”
“A current example is an average 18 m to 24 m polyvalent vessel fishing for whitefish and prawns, which burns 25, 000 to 30,000 litres of fuel per month. We can imagine the negative impact of the doubling of that price and the non-viable nature of the activity as a result. The Irish fleet has two main groupings, the first of which is those that operate offshore and which travel further and spend longer at sea. Some of these process at sea and require energy to do so, which is fuelled by marine gas oil. Additionally, there are approximately 800 active inshore vessels. There are probably 1,800 in total, but we reckon about 800 vessels are active. These vessels operate near the shore, do not spend multiple days at sea and purchase their fuel predominantly at pump prices, similar to farmers.”
“This is at a time of year where fishing effort increases due to the seasonal nature of our fisheries and the weather improvements have made it safer to fish. With fuel prices at their peak, however, it was not viable for fishermen and fisherwomen to go to sea. When boat owners decide to tie up, there are the obvious direct impacts on the supply of fresh fish and, unfortunately, there are no payments to crew. There is also an impact on the processing sector and the people it employs. Ireland's fishing fleet utilises approximately 75 million litres of fuel annually. The largest consumers in the fleet are the offshore vessels. However, fuel consumption per vessel varies widely depending on size, gear and type of fishing activity undertaken.”
“We all know the fuel-intensive nature of the activities we are talking about, particularly in the fishing sector and how impactful that is on the lives and livelihoods in the pursuit of fishing and the impact it has on the coastal communities and the people who are employed in it. Prior to the current situation fishermen were paying around 55 cent to 60 cent per litre net of VAT and duty for marine diesel. The prices being quoted in March ranged from €1.25 to €1.46, representing a doubling or more in price. We see again today crude oil prices being at their highest in a very long time. There is no obvious end in sight in the short term to the effective blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and the impact that is continuing to have. It is not as if this is about to resolve itself in the days ahead.”
“I welcome the opportunity to talk to Senators today about this really important issue. As Senators know, the Government recognises the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our farmers, contractors, and fishermen and fisherwomen around the coastline. I have heard it from fishermen and fisherwomen from all coastal areas of the country and in my ongoing engagements with all our seafood representative bodies in recent weeks. I have done my best to get around to as many of the areas as I can and meet widely with the main stakeholders. Marine gas oil has risen dramatically in price over the past months and at points has been more than double the price of the same period last year.”
“Again, it is too early to establish that, but I think we have seen the benefits of the scheme. Let us hope it can be continued into the future. Even if we get them, we would probably be at 15% with the ones that were done back to 2022. That is a good start, and then we could ramp it up to get all those 18,000, or as many as wanted, onto the scheme.”
“Certainly, the Department could take that up with the SEAI to make sure there is a greater level of connection or communication between those potential beneficiaries. I think the Senator asked how many were on the register. My understanding is that there are about 18,000 in total. The 1,900 figure would represent about 10% of that, if my sums are close, so we still have a bit to go. Not everybody will want solar and not everybody will see it as beneficial, but the Senator has identified a need and has clearly identified the capacity for the scheme to deliver for some. We will make every effort to improve the communication to get as many people into the scheme as possible. As I said, the overall future of the scheme will be looked at in the context of budget 2027.”
“Each participating supplier received an allocated amount of funding under its memorandum of understanding with the SEAI. Once the initial allocation is used, additional funding will be provided to ensure that all eligible households are offered access to the scheme within the budget allocation. Given the importance of the scheme and the fact that the expected spend this year will bring the total close to the overarching financial allocation, it is intended to commence a review of the scheme in 2026, towards budget 2027, and see how we can better advance the good work being done. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. His raising it here will give further ventilation and amplification to a scheme that is very worthwhile.”
“Each energy supplier will have their own arrangement with the SEAI on which they proceed with the installation of this, and it is dependent on the capacity of the suppliers' individual solar PV installers and, of course, the location because this adds to the burden. The scheme is wholly managed by the registered energy suppliers, with each of the suppliers contacting their own eligible customers directly, in line with the work plans of their solar PV installers. It is important to note that suppliers, who manage the administrative aspects of the scheme under the SEAI, issue offers to eligible homeowners in batches, based on operational capacity. As regards the batch, obviously, the installers get the benefit of the grouping effect.”
“Initially the scheme was limited to individuals who were on the life support category of the priority services register in 2022, when the scheme was launched, but due to the strong uptake and positive impact already observed the scheme is now in the process of being extended to include all homeowners who are registered on the life support category regardless of when they were registered. Customers are registered by their supplier and we are pushing the suppliers to do this. Most energy suppliers have agreed to participate in the scheme, with some suppliers more advanced in their programmes than others.”
“This year we will see a major expansion of delivery, with an allocation of €11.7 million. This is expected to deliver about 1,900 homes. To date in 2026 about €1.17 million has been spent, with 171 homes installed and a further 60 in the process of being completed. This shows that the pace of the deployment is ramping up. Senator Scahill is raising the scheme and I hope that other Senators and Members of the Parliament will generally recognise the scheme. It is not necessarily widely known about. There are a lot of schemes that are oversubscribed but this one is not. We all know vulnerable users and we often use social media to promote certain schemes. This is one where all of us collectively could do a little bit more, considering specifically that the money is available.”
“The scheme is designed to go some way towards helping to reduce their energy costs but Senator Scahill has identified an equally important component, which is that it provides electricity when the grid in particular isolated areas is impacted through storms or other interruptions. The scheme provides a fully funded 2 kW solar PV system for eligible households. This includes the survey, design, supply, installation and post works on the building energy rating. Senator Scahill is wondering about the progress to date. The scheme was launched in 2022, with an overall budget of approximately €20 million. The SEAI reports that 137 systems were installed in 2024 at a cost of almost €1.8 million. Last year about 473 systems were installed, with expenditure of about €2.4 million. We are ramping it up slowly.”
“I thank Senator Scahill for raising what I believe it is a very important issue. As he has rightly identified, the solar PV for the medically vulnerable scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation, as he has identified, of solar photovoltaic panels for household customers who have registered on the life support category of the priority services register. These are homes that have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life-protecting devices and assistive technology. Examples include requiring dialysis machines, which we are all familiar with, or respirators. As such, these households may have a higher energy demand then the average user.”
“I recognise that all the Senators here have been thoughtful in their presentations and comments. It is good to see that there is a collegiality in raising the really important issues that are a challenge to Government, but really importantly, to citizens as well. I thank them for that.”
“However, all the advice we are getting indicates we will still need some green molecules to power our economy to get to net zero by 2050. There will be a chunk that will be needed for storage, for electricity when the sun is not shining and when the wind is not blowing, and also to power some heavy-goods vehicles. We believe at this stage that that is most likely to be hydrogen. That is where we ultimately want to get to. Under the proposal for a project off Kinsale, that storage could then flip to storing hydrogen when we reach that point. I am sorry I did not get to cover all the points but I am happy to come back at any stage, either through a Topical Issue or any other opportunity we have for statements or whatever else, to address this really important issue.”
“It is floating and it can be got rid of when we do not need it. I met earlier with a group comprising the ESB, Bord Gáis and a private developer, which have come together under the banner of Kestrel. It is looking at providing a storage facility in the old Kinsale Head gas field, or in one of the chambers there, that would give us resilience of about 90 days of gas storage. In the short term it would be natural gas but it would have the capacity to move towards hydrogen as hydrogen production comes on, which will be partly through electrolysers and in using the unused wind when we have all of that coming on board. Our transition is using gas, which has the least negative impact in the short term, as we move towards more renewables.”
“It has a project in place and many of the ports around there are looking at potential opportunities, if not in the major development side, then in the operation and maintenance work that will form part of it afterwards. Senator Duffy talked about the battery storage piece. We have got to ensure the grid is resilient and when certain breaks come that energy can be supplied energy from other areas through that lattice approach it has. However, battery storage is very important, and we want to do more. On the negativity towards the use of gas in particular, Senator Higgins spoke about energy security in the Shannon Estuary, which is such an important part of the Government's agenda. We have to drive ahead with that. It is a short-term measure. We are not investing in hard-construction infrastructure.”
“I accept it is challenging to get through from here to 2030 in managing all the demand that is there. Senator Byrne talked about the cost of fuel and Senator Collins talked about the port of Limerick. I spoke at an event yesterday with the Limerick Chamber of Commerce about the good work the port is doing. There is a port policy to be announced shortly which will play into that. Senator Byrne is right that Cork is now moving ahead. It has €130 million or €140 million in investment and Ann Doherty, the chief executive down there, is doing a great job in driving that. We expect to see that being able to meet the demand. For sure, Rosslare will follow.”