‘We need to move faster’ - Calls for urgency in Louth amid offshore wind potential
Fianna Fáil’s Erin McGreehan was reflecting on the most recent meeting of the European Council
A Louth TD has called for urgency amid the county’s potential to play a key role in the production of offshore wind energy.
Fianna Fáil’s Erin McGreehan was reflecting on the most recent meeting of the European Council.
Speaking in the Dáil, she emphasised the importance of building up Ireland’s renewable energy production, in light of the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Deputy McGreehan went on to highlight the role that her own native county of Louth could play in this process.
She stated: “I see these opportunities in County Louth every single day. We have wind and water resources as well as the geographic position. We have a skills base.
“The Minister of State knows the county very well. Crucially, we have the infrastructural potential, particularly in places like Greenore Port.
“Greenore Port, as the Minister of State knows, has the potential to become the key operations and maintenance port for offshore wind in the Irish Sea.
“That is not pie in the sky; it is a practicable and deliverable project. It has planning permission.
“It would support offshore wind deployment, create jobs and anchor long-term economic activity in the region.”
However, she emphasised the need for the Government to move quickly on the issue, amid the risk of further changes to oil prices.
“If we talk about creating the resilience to move to stability, we know that oil and gas markets are hugely volatile and that geopolitical shocks can trigger sudden price hikes.
“We also know there will be another oil crisis. It is not a question of if but, rather, whether we will be ready for it and whether we are preparing right now because we are too exposed.
“This is why we need to move faster. Other speakers have spoken in this regard. We need to ensure we are moving on this.”
Deputy McGreehan concluded by noting the fact that Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union later this year.
She added that this gives the country the perfect opportunity to lead in the area of renewable energy production.