I have heard the Taoiseach describe offshore wind generation, in particular floating wind generation, as our "moonshot", notwithstanding that the industry was taken aback by the announcement in February that phase 2 would be limited to the south and east coasts and to anchored wind only. Nevertheless it is hoped to have 2 GW of offshore wind generation in development by 2030. That will require a phase 3 policy to be announced and that is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. It will also require the announcement of routes to market, which is scheduled for 2024. Most importantly, it will require a designated maritime area plan, DMAP, or the mapping of areas off the west, as well as the south - although currently it is limited to the south - to be done quickly. Where are we with that? Other countries are moving ahead and investment is going to other countries. We are letting this apparent opportunity pass us by as a State.

Energy independence and all of the benefits that arise from that are our moonshot for the 21st century. That involves offshore wind, onshore wind, solar energy, interconnection, battery storage and all of those things put together. It makes sense to do this in a plan-led way, doing what is cheapest and quickest first and then doing what is most expensive and hardest to do thereafter. That is the general approach we are taking as a Government. People often ask why we have not done more offshore wind generation to date and it is because we have done so much onshore wind generation. About 40% of our electricity comes from onshore wind but the next big step is offshore. The Deputy asks a technical question, which is a valid one. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has a paper on that which I have seen but I do not want to give the Deputy an answer that might be inaccurate. However, we will come to the Deputy with some more detail.

I also want to raise the wind energy issue. Back in the summer the Taoiseach launched the Shannon Estuary economic task force and it is estimated that the cumulative value of all of that wind energy coming in from the most ferocious wind corridor in Europe could be €78 billion. The wind on the Atlantic will never let us down but there is a worry that policy could let us down.

A bit like air.

The future framework policy is coming up for consideration in spring 2024 and the ask is that phase 3 includes floating offshore wind, and in particular that the Wild Atlantic Way is looked at. There is also an ask for designated maritime areas where wind can be facilitated. In specific, the Taoiseach needs to give a role to Clare County Council and other local authorities along the western seaboard to lead some of this. It does not all have to be led by the Department; give the council the competency. Let us have a marine planning unit within those western local authorities. I ask the Taoiseach to give us some hope because we have huge faith in wind energy, what it can do environmentally and the revenue it can bring to the State. However, hope is fading a little on the policy and regulatory framework and we are hoping the Taoiseach can give some renewed hope to the region.

We will give any suggestions that the Deputy has proper and full consideration. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is at COP28 but I know he will want to engage with the Deputy when he gets back. From talking to other Heads of Government all around the world, I hear that everyone is doing this. Everyone is doing solar energy and everyone is installing wind turbines, onshore and offshore. It makes sense to do this in a plan-led manner, not a developer-led manner because that would just make it more expensive. Doing it in a plan-led manner and doing what is cheapest and easiest to do first will be the way we meet our targets quickest