Energy White Paper Not Fulfilled

The Government has failed to complete almost two thirds of the specific actions scheduled for 2007 under last March's Energy White Paper, according to information obtained by Fine Gael Energy Spokesperson Simon Coveney.

The information was provided by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan in response to a series of parliamentary questions.

"While a lot of Minister Ryan's rhetoric on energy conservation and the promotion of renewables is positive, the facts show that specific actions in the White Paper simply haven't been achieved," Mr Coveney said.

"What is the point in having a government White Paper on energy if the commitments made in it are largely ignored by him, particularly in the areas of energy security, price competitiveness and fuel poverty?"


Mr Coveney said Government achievements in the energy sector are simply not happening quickly enough. He claimed that the only way to judge the performance of a Minister was to measure him against delivery on government commitments.

"Whether it is the National Climate Change Strategy, or the Government White Paper on Energy, the Green Ministers' ability to deliver has been poor to date," he said

Included in the unachieved commitments are; the setting of an all-island 2020 renewables target based on grid strategy; the publication of final Energy Efficiency Action Plan and the completion of review of security of oil supplies.

The spokesman added: "The Energy White Paper is not a particularly ambitious document, and only a small proportion of its proposals are tied to specific deadlines. This fact was recognised by commentators at the time of its launch last year, including Eamon Ryan, in opposition at the time, who called it 'long on rhetoric but short on real substance'; so why can't the Minister follow through on what little 'real substance' there is contained in it?"

(VB/JM)