Richard Bruton
Question:8 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Energy the progress which has been made on the presentation of a White Paper on energy policy, which was to have been published by his Department two years ago.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - White Paper on Energy Policy.
Michael Ferris
Question:37 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Energy if he will publish a White Paper on energy policy in 1990.
Joseph Doyle
Question:70 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Energy the progress which has been made on the presentation of a White Paper on energy policy, which was to have been published by his Department two years ago.
I propose to take Priority Question No. 8 and Questions Nos. 37 and 70 together.
The key objectives of this Government's energy policy are to ensure that there is a reliable and secure supply of energy, that energy is provided at the minimum cost possible and that energy use complies with current safety and environmental requirements.
The main policy objectives for energy were set out in the National Development Plan 1989-1993 and in the Programme for Government. I am not convinced that the publication of a White Paper on energy would change these objectives or enable them to be achieved more effectively than at present. I believe it is more fruitful to direct scarce resources at specific areas of energy policy which require to be examined in the light of changing circumstances and I will continue to do so when necessary.
It is somewhat puzzling that the Minister agrees there is a need for thought about policy but does not agree there is need to publish a policy paper. Would he not agree that the IEA, on every occasion on which they have commented on Irish energy policy, have drawn attention to the lack of a policy paper and encouraged the Government to proceed with it quickly? Would the Minister not agree that in the absence of this policy paper the ESB and other agencies are effectively writing their own policy?
The Deputy refers to a statement made by a previous Minister who indicated his intention to prepare a White Paper. I can confirm that a considerable amount of preparatory work was undertaken in the Department of Energy with the intention of drafting a White Paper on energy policy. However, in the light of rapid changes on the energy scene, particularly the significant initiatives at European Community level in relation to the achievement of the Single European Market, it was felt that it would be pointless to produce a White Paper which would immediately be overtaken by events.
Heightened awareness of environmental concerns in recent times will have significant effects on the energy scene, the full implications of which are not yet clear. I do not consider that it is sensible at this stage to commit substantial resources of my Department to the preparation of a White Paper on energy policy in a climate where factors are changing fairly rapidly. It would be a wrong decision from a strategic point of view and a waste of the resources of my Department, which I am devoting to certain areas which I have mentioned as being in need of attention. These are specific policy areas which include the gas inter-connector with the United Kingdom or Europe where I want the very important strategic policy decision to be implemented as quickly as possible. This will have a dramatic effect on our energy costs. There is also the question of upgrading the Whitegate Oil Refinery and the examination of the best uses of Bord na Móna cut-away bog. There are also policy matters in regard to combined heat and power opportunities. These are areas to which I am devoting departmental resources and it would be remiss of me to switch important staff to preparing a White Paper which in these circumstances, where the ground rules are changing so rapidly, would probably be a wasted exercise.
Given that the European Commission are dramatically changing the ground rules, how can we face that fact if we are not willing to adopt policies which will secure, for example, a 20 per cent cut in fossil fuel use? We have to think out these matters.
I would have expected the Deputy to acknowledge that this Minister for Energy has made a very important contribution to changes in the energy policy of the EC in the initiatives we have taken in securing approval of very important directives in which for the first time an internal energy policy is beginning to emerge. This follows the six months of the Irish Presidency. We are more conscious than most of the emerging situation and I believe the stance I am taking in the Department is the correct one in the circumstances. We recognise our international obligations and we are working with close co-operation between the energy and environment areas in order to achieve stated objectives where limits on emissions and so on are required following international agreements. These commitments were published earlier this year in the Government's environment policy document and I do not see any difficulty in our achieving these objectives through prudent policy management.