Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
529. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the impact for Irish energy users of the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the UK; if he will report on any potential knock-on job creation opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5208/13]
View answerThe Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation that UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey and I signed on 24 January will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of Ireland and the United Kingdom. This will determine whether it is beneficial for both countries to enter into an Inter-Governmental Agreement under the Renewable Energy Directive to provide for renewable energy trading.
If an Inter-Governmental Agreement is entered into, there are potential significant employment opportunities. As an example, employment creation arising from a 3,000MW project would be expected to be in the order of 3,000 to 6,000 job years in the construction phase, with the actual number dependent on the construction schedule to 2020. There would also be additional jobs created in the on-going maintenance of turbines over a 20-year operating life. Further employment opportunities could arise if turbines or components were to be manufactured in Ireland. All relevant State agencies, particularly in the enterprise area, would have to co-ordinate their activities early in the process to ensure employment potential of export projects is maximised. This opportunity has already been identified by the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland in their clean technology growth strategies.
In terms of the impact on Irish energy users, the mechanisms for sharing the resultant economic benefits of renewable energy trade with the UK is a matter to be addressed in the coming year, and ahead of signing a potential Inter-Governmental Agreement, which would have to ensure no financial cost or risk to the Irish State or energy user.
