In early 2021, I raised with the Tánaiste the effect of the proposed ban on the granting of new exploration licences and how it would leave us not only without any energy independence but also undermine investment in all existing exploration licences off the Irish coast, in particular the south-west coast of Ireland and Cork. Sadly, despite a new awareness in the system that we will struggle to keep the lights on this winter, little has changed to provide long-term solutions for our energy needs. The cost of living in Ireland is increasing at an alarming rate. One of the main reasons for the increase is the uncertainty over energy supply and the rising cost of energy and fuels. Not a single person in Ireland is unaffected by rising costs. The direct impact of rising fuel costs on farmers, hauliers and fishermen is pushing up the cost of food. The ongoing situation in Ukraine has highlighted the need for Ireland to be self-sufficient from an energy perspective.

I acknowledge that transitioning to renewable energy sources must be our key focus in the years ahead. However, oil and gas will be required for at least another two to three decades while we transition to renewables. We currently import 100% of our oil and coal and 70% of our gas, but we have a unique opportunity to harness an indigenous supply of oil and gas on our doorstep by optimising the Barryroe field off the south-west coast. This House and our political system need to wake up to the exposure of our security of supply. Ireland must demonstrate that it has taken all of the necessary measures so that, in the event of disruption, we have the capacity to satisfy the demands of our society and economy.

The Kinsale Head gas field and associated satellite field developments transformed Ireland, being the primary enabler for the formation of Bord Gáis Éireann and gas pipeline infrastructure, creating a large number of jobs and stimulating significant industrial development in the Cork area.

The potential in Barryroe could match that of the Kinsale Head gas field, which has delivered big benefits for the local economy and shown what can be achieved. It has been worth up to €30 million a year in wages and the provisions of supplies and services. County Cork, its ports and airports and its skilled workers, have shown the infrastructure is there not just to serve the existing fields, which will soon enter wind-down, but to repeat that success all over again. The potential is not just for gas but also to pave the way for wave, solar and offshore wind.

What, if anything, has the Government done about pursuing domestic indigenous energy beyond renewable energy? As I stated, Barryroe is one of the largest undeveloped offshore oil and gas fields in Europe. It has the potential to provide significant strategic and fiscal value to Ireland and to give it security of supply as well as creating substantial employment opportunities. I am aware Providence Resources, under the existing exploration licence, submitted the application for a lease undertaking in April 2021. Ministerial approval of the lease undertaking is urgently required to allow the Barryroe development to move forward. Who is delaying the development going forward? What is the Taoiseach going to do about the ongoing delays in respect of this national asset?

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As regards the broader picture around energy supply and security of supply, the very strong focus is on renewables and the entire agenda over the next decade or so will be to develop very significantly offshore wind across the east, west and south-west coasts. I believe the next decade will witness transformative investment in wind energy in particular, including offshore wind energy, and will create lots of economic activity on coasts along the western seaboard and in the south west. The Shannon Estuary and Cork Harbour port will all be significant centres, as will a number of ports on the east coast. I was in Galway recently for a significant conference on the exploitation of offshore wind with a view to bringing economic benefits to that region.

The consensus in the House, as the Deputy may be aware, over the past two Dáileanna has been to move towards renewables and away from fossil fuels in general, and particularly, of course, away from exploration for fossil fuels. I know the Barryroe licence is an existing one, but my understanding is it has been on the go for quite a long time. By that, I mean it is an area that has been drilled and so on. There have been different iterations but nothing has ever come to fruition. I believe there is an application in with the Minister, who, obviously, is considering that application. It is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in respect of that specific application.

More generally, however, the focus is moving towards renewable energy as the basis for our future energy needs. As regards the interim, I accept that gas remains a transitional fuel and will be a transitional fuel well into the future as a backup to wind and that those will be the key aspects. There is no doubt that transitioning to a renewable energy supply base will be challenging in the context of security of supply because the economy has grown at very strong rates in recent years, notwithstanding Brexit and Covid-19, and it continues to grow. In particular, the foreign direct investment side of our economy has been very strong in terms of new investments in life sciences, technology, financial services, all of which is beneficial, and in terms of the digital economy. We accept there are challenges in respect of energy into the future but we are in no doubt that the key focus of the State's activity should be the development of offshore wind at critical mass so that in the mid 2030s the nation should be a net exporter of energy through offshore wind exploitation.

Live, horse, and get grass.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply but, in fairness, the Barryroe field has massive potential. I do not think he has researched it properly. Is he aware that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has refused point blank to meet with those from the Corrib and Barryroe fields? Does the Taoiseach agree with that? If the Minister will not meet with the industry because of his own beliefs, will the Taoiseach meet with them or consider appointing a Minister for energy who will listen to the alternatives that lie off the Irish coast and will enhance our energy supply? The Taoiseach referred to renewables. It will be a very long time before the fishing boats of Courtmacsherry, Union Hall, Schull and Castletownbere, the farm equipment of the farmers supplying Barryroe Co-operative or the milk tankers delivering milk to the Carbery Group, winner of Cork company of the year, will be powered by renewable energy.

It is time for the Taoiseach and his Fianna Fáil Deputies to leave the fantasy energy world of a failing Green Party and come into the real world of energy security. In July 1942, in this House, his political hero, the great Seán Lemass, the then Minister for Supplies, said:

The facts must be faced. There must be no more self-deception in this country. We have all lived too long in a fool's paradise and it has taken a world war to awaken us to a sense of reality.

In this time of another war, will the Taoiseach take his advice and extend the Barryroe licence?

Thank you, Deputy.

It will give our country energy security and create a significant number of jobs in rural areas in west Cork. It is indeed time to exit this fool's paradise.

I want to pay tribute to the Carbery Group on winning the overall award for Cork company of the year. Maybe the Deputy should take its example because one of the issues the company champions is net zero-emissions farming. It is way ahead of the game in respect of that. That is west Cork leading and a great west Cork company leading. Perhaps the Deputy should discuss that with the company in terms of how it is going about it and doing it.

In respect of the broader issue of self-deception, we got the latest meteorological report yesterday to the Cabinet subcommittee from Professor Peter Thorne. If there is any self-deception going on, it is a collective self-deception about the impact of climate change, how fast it is approaching and how devastating it is going to be for our children's children in particular. It is quite frightening. We need collectively to get a grip of ourselves and not fight minor battles about turf. I am honestly saying that.

The time is up, Taoiseach.

If we get into all sorts of high doh about very minor issues relative to the enormity of what is coming our way in respect of climate change, it is quite frightening.

I do not mean that in a way of apportioning blame or anything like that. I am saying that, collectively, we need to get a grip here and we need to move.

What about Seán Lemass?

The time is up.

The Taoiseach did not answer my question.

That concludes Leaders' Questions.