The Energy Minister is calling for citizens to "expedite the transition to a low-carbon future for our own sake and for the sake of our children and grandchildren".

Minister Alex White was speaking in Dublin to a group of almost 300 'energy stakeholders' in the final public consultation session before the publication of an energy White Paper in the autumn.

Minister White said: "This vision comes with a pledge to all our citizens, our communities, industry, and those who work to provide energy to our homes and workplaces, that policy will ensure certainty, stability and affordability as we make the transition to a low carbon future."

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However, Minister White warned about the challenges of realising this vision, adding: "We will be constrained by the availability of capital and other resources. Some of our decisions will involve costs as well as benefits. We will be presented with many difficult choices as we juggle the sometimes conflicting priorities of affordability, sustainability and energy security."

Minister White said he wanted "informed and engaged citizens" to take an active role in the transition to a low-carbon society and economy, and pledged that community concerns about the development of new energy infrastructure would be dealt with sensitively in future.

He also said policy would aggressively target energy efficiency, which was one of the few elements of energy policy that is completely in our control. The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan has already led to €700m in savings from reduced fossil fuel imports, he said. He also specifically highlighted the contribution of schools and children to energy savings through initiatives like the Green Schools Programme.

(CD)