Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2084. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to take fossil fuels out of electricity generation by 2030 as promised in his United Nations speech. [34386/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Energy White Paper presents a long-term strategic vision that is intended to guide the direction of Irish energy policy from now until 2030. At its heart is a commitment to transform Ireland into a low carbon society and economy by 2050 and envisages a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the energy system by 80-95% relative to 1990 levels. The White Paper identifies the importance of diversifying Ireland's energy generation portfolio and largely decarbonising the energy sector by 2050 but also recognises that some fossil fuels will remain significant elements of Ireland’s energy supply in that transition period.
The Government has also adopted a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy including the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. In addition, my Department is developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. I will be bringing proposals to Government on the RESS on July 24th.
The National Mitigation Plan 2017 restates the Government's commitment to move from a fossil fuel based electricity system to a low carbon power system and is an initial step to set Ireland on a pathway to achieve the deep decarbonisation required by 2050. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 speaks plainly to the fact that Ireland’s energy system requires a radical transformation in order to achieve its 2030 and 2050 energy and climate objectives. This means that how we generate energy, and how we use it, has to fundamentally change and that by 2030, peat and coal will no longer have a role in electricity generation in Ireland.
The National Mitigation Plan covers greenhouse gas emissions in the Electricity Generation, Built Environment, Transport, and Agriculture, Forest and Land Use sectors. For each sector, the Plan sets out the sectoral policy context, the greenhouse gas emissions trends for each sector, the opportunities and challenges, mitigation measures currently in place and under development, and specific actions within each sector.
Analysis is also being carried out to examine the potential economic impact of various carbon tax scenarios. A report is due to be published on this in advance of the forthcoming budget. The National Development Plan published earlier this year specifies that €1 in every €5 spent over the next decade in public funding is to be spent on climate related activity.
