Land use study and solar guidelines
Deputy Toole asked for firm timelines on the land use study and solar farm guidelines, linking them to county development plans, transport costs and a broader view of sovereignty and security. The Taoiseach continued on renewables and fuel-price volatility; the Ceann Comhairle treated it as a request for debate and the Taoiseach said he would raise it on the Order of Business.
I welcome those tentative updates. Could we firm up timelines for the publication of the land use study and particularly the timelines for the issuing of solar farm guidelines? Land use in general is particularly important because a lot of local authorities are currently preparing county development plans or variations on county development plans. If we are to really have a macro-consideration of all the elements of sovereignty and of security - yes, we are part of the greater Union - we have to begin from our home standpoint. There is great value to be achieved in transportation costs, with a shorter route from farm to fork, and in terms of the reduction in additives to food if it is produced as close as possible to home.
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When I mentioned Europe, I meant Ireland will be feeding a lot of Europe. That is my point. We are. In fact, I was reading Ronan McGreevy's work on Seán Lemass recently. During the war a lot of our foodstuffs went to Britain. That is an aspect of war and security that rarely gets documented or referenced but it was a significant contribution in its own way. Even globally, the work we do in Africa, particularly in terms of climate resilience advice and product and so on in terms of crops is quite strong because of our experience of famine. The point I am making trying to make is that we have a global role in terms of food security and we should maintain our own production capacity as a result of that.
Regarding the solar farm guidelines, there are many guidelines falling due. Solar is growing very fast. It is now the third fuel. When we look at all the debate we have about war in Iran and fossil fuel volatility, we need a broader debate in the House on the balance here-----
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-----because we need more renewables so we are not subject and exposed to volatility on fuel prices into the future, which derails our economy very quickly.