Energy Security: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-29
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Cathal Byrne (FG), Cultural and Educational Panel

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I acknowledge the enormous concerns that ordinary people are having around the cost of energy, the price of fuel and the difficulties that they are having, including working people getting to work and making ends meet and the challenges that they are posing. The reality here is that as a country we have to make a concerted effort to make the transition away from fossil fuel use, particularly given the global instability that we have at the moment. My own county of Wexford is to the forefront in that regard. As previously mentioned, the Tonn Nua site off the coast of Wexford has enormous potential for offshore renewable energy. To facilitate that site and maximise its potential, there has to be continued investment in the port in Rosslare. We have to see the Rosslare to Oilgate motorway being finally delivered. These are key infrastructure projects that are going to have a direct impact on the ability of Wexford to be to the forefront of that given our unique position with the Tonn Nua site and the opportunities that present there.
I recently met with residents and members of the Gusserane Community Action Group. It is a community-based group that has concerns about large-scale solar farms being developed in the area, particularly around Gusserane, Ballycullane, Newbawn and the Campile-Clongeen area, where there are plans for 300 acres of solar farm use. While I am in favour of solar farms, the group has asked me to voice some of its concerns around the fact this is some of the best agricultural land in County Wexford, as well as the lack of consultation between the developer and the local residents in the area and a general sense we are having now of industrial levels of solar farm use being rolled out in rural Ireland. The group has reiterated the call for the Minister and the Department to publish clear land use guidelines. I continue to advocate for that so we have a clear sense of direction as to where this is going. I hope this is something the Minister of State and the Department can do into the future.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-29