Press Releases
O'Malley urges urgent action for Ireland to meet its Koyoto obligations
Progressive Democrats TD Fiona O'Malley has urged today (16th February) the Government to take urgent and innovative action so that Ireland can meet its Koyoto obligations.
“Ireland has some of the best renewable energy potential of any country in the world, we have huge wind and wave energy potential and one of the best climates for growing trees for the production of bio-mass.”
“We must effect a step change in our renewable energy potential policy if we are to meet our obligations under the Koyoto treaty; however we have the potential to be a European leader in the renewable energy sector.
To fully exploit Ireland's renewable energy policy we must;
- Encourage investment in the wind energy sector by offering long term contracts for the purchase of power from independent suppliers
- Change the Excise Tax Regime to create a market for bio-fuels
- Invest in research and development in wave and wind energy, and in particular energy storage, and energy efficiency.
As a nation we should not view the Koyoto Treaty as a threat but as a challenge which we can rise to and which in time we can benefit from.
'Ireland could become a world leader in the technology and innovative action by Government can make it so.'
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