Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:386. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a recent report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36233/23]
View answerTuesday, 25 July 2023
Questions (386)
Written answers
My Department’s White Paper on Enterprise has clearly set out that the twin transition of digitisation and decarbonisation represents the opportunities and challenges of the future for Irish industry. Addressing these opportunities in a comprehensive manner will further enhance our reputation as a world-leading, progressive, high-value add economy trading successfully in international markets. The challenge for us all is to articulate the vision that places Ireland at the centre of this new global economy and documents a roadmap that can deliver on that vision.
In that context, I warmly welcome the ambition set out by the independent Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce and the detailed set of actions. The Taskforce was established by my Department and its Secretariat was supported by Department officials. I particularly welcome the Taskforce’s proposal to develop an Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind. My Department has recently established a new Unit tasked with delivering on this objective recognising the vast potential the industry has for Ireland.
The Taskforce’s vision for an Atlantic Green Digital Corridor, developing from the Shannon Estuary and stretching from Cork to Donegal is more than an energy strategy; it is also about reshaping the Irish economy very fundamentally, and it offers a tangible opportunity to achieve balanced regional development, something that is a key priority of mine.
I was very pleased to join the Taoiseach and Ministers Ryan and Foley in launching the independent Taskforce’s Report in Ardnacrusha on the 8th of July. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 committed to supporting the Shannon Estuary region by establishing this Taskforce and I was particularly pleased to see that commitment honoured in such a visionary and ambitious Final Report. The Report is the culmination of extensive stakeholder engagement over the course of the last year with industry, Government Departments and Agencies, Ministers, public representatives from the region, in addition to conducting two public consultations.
A number of recommendations contained in the Report, including the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) and the publication of a National Hydrogen Strategy, have already been actioned by Government in the past few weeks. These are important elements to our delivery of offshore wind energy, and its routes to market, and both clearly demonstrate Government’s commitment to developing an offshore wind industry of scale in Ireland.
I also welcome the series of recommendations in the Report designed to bring more immediate economic and sustainability benefits to the Shannon Estuary region. This includes actions required to develop and upscale the deployment of onshore sources of renewable energy such as biomethane, as well as specific recommendations on developing the region’s transport and logistics infrastructure, digital connectivity, and proposals around further developing the Estuary’s tourism offering.
The Taskforce have presented Government with a range of recommendations across all these areas which we will collectively consider in detail.