Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has read the recent NESC publication entitled Energy Transition Pathways and the Covid-19 Pandemic: An analysis of the green recovery responses in Denmark and Ireland. [42010/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Economic and Social Council (NESC) published a report, “Energy Transition Pathways and the COVID-19 Pandemic: An analysis of the ‘green recovery’ responses in Denmark and Ireland”, in November. I note the report’s observation that Ireland and Denmark have embraced the energy transition as a way to diversify their energy supply, and as an industrial strategy, and appear to be continuing along established trajectories towards decarbonising their electricity sectors. The report recognises the global disruption to economic and social patterns from the pandemic and highlights Ireland and Denmark as positive examples of countries continuing to decarbonise their economies while taking action to repair the damage from the Covid 19 pandemic.
I believe that measures to return the Irish economy to the level of activity prior to the pandemic can also be used to promote the green transformation. The Government’s July Stimulus Package, containing the retrofitting initiative and the Green Enterprise Fund, is one such example.
The Government is committed to addressing climate change and responding to the Covid-19 challenge as set out in the Programme for Government; I expect these commitments to be further addressed in the upcoming National Economic Plan and the review of the National Development Plan which is currently underway.
