The Green Party has hit out at the Government following the publication of the Energy White Paper.

Leader of the party Eamon Ryan said the lack of urgency shown by the Government in the paper was as if the COP21 Paris Agreement "never happened".

He said: "If we were serious about climate change we would commit to fully decarbonize our energy system by 2050 at the latest. Instead Fine Gael and Labour are putting that transition back to 2100, when our great grandchildren would have to make the change.

-- Advertisement --

"This delay will see Ireland missing out on the economic opportunities that now exist for those countries willing to show leadership and devise the low carbon energy solutions that the rest of the world is going to need.

"Rather than promoting a clear divestment strategy the paper predicts we will still be using fossil fuels for up to 30% of our needs in 2050. That keeps the door open for every single fossil fuel supplier to say they are needed and are a part of our energy future. The paper allows for the ongoing burning of peat and coal in electricity generation and keeps the door open for hydraulic fracking for natural gas. We should instead be placing our country on the international centre for a clean alternative, which would serve our interests in a social as well as economic and environmental way."

(CD)