Page 57 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2015 publication
P. 57
Spring 2015 European Energy Innovation 57

IRELAND

Delivering Ireland’s energy potential

By Alex White, Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Energy is the lifeblood – will continue to be the heart of significant interrelated challenges
of all our economies Ireland’s energy policy. we face and the inevitable
and societies. Electricity tensions between these complex
and gas demand for Ireland is in the process of policy objectives. Resolving
business and for households developing a definitive energy them will require Government,
must be met safely and securely policy statement to 2030 and regulators, industry, system
on a continuous basis 365 beyond. To this end, a Green operators, consumers and citizens
days a year. Secure, reliable, Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland to make informed and evidence-
affordable and safe supplies of was published in 2014. The based choices in shaping our
electricity, gas and oil are critical Paper considered the long-term future energy policy. It is planned
to Ireland’s ability to attract inward policy, regulatory and societal to publish the final Energy Policy
investment, support domestic interventions necessary for Paper in September this year.
investment, and retain and Ireland to make the transition
create jobs. The three pillars on to a low-carbon future, and to We are all aware of the effects of
which European energy policy is ensure that we have a secure climate change and responding
developed – security of supply, supply of affordable energy. The to this challenge is a key element
competitiveness and sustainability Green Paper acknowledged the of Irish energy policy. Ireland

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