Sargent: Taoiseach supporting French nuclear industry ahead of Irish jobs
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent TD today accused the Taoiseach of putting the interests of the French nuclear industry ahead of Irish business and consumers.
"There are reports that the ESB is interested in joining forces with foreign power producers to import French nuclear-generated electricity," Sargent said during Leader's Questions in the Dáil today.
"Is the Taoiseach serious about turning this country around and giving it the energy supply it needs from green, clean, renewable sources? Or will he continue to pander to the French nuclear industry through the ESB?
"Because of the Government's failure to provide adequate political and financial support to the Irish renewable sector, including its failure to properly separate wholesale from retail operations as recommended by Deloitte & Touche, Irish companies like Airtricity and OpenHydro are being forced to invest in projects abroad, instead of providing jobs and energy security for Ireland."
Sargent went on to call for the introduction of 'smart metering' as a means of feeding back into the national grid domestically-generated electricity, be it from farm waste, photovoltaic cells, biomass or wind turbines.
"The practice of smart metering is gaining considerable support internationally as a way for householders to gain greater control over their electricity consumption," he said.
"Smart metering and proper support for the Irish renewable energy sector would save a considerable amount on household electricity bills, as well improve the country's ability to deal with climate change. The Government has had ten years to bring in these measures."
