The Taoiseach has promised a “relentless focus” on building more offshore winds in order to cut carbon emissions and boost Ireland’s energy independence.
The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has warned Ireland is currently on track to miss legally binding EU climate targets, something that could see the State fined billions of euro.
Renewable energy projects continue to encounter difficulties obtaining planning permission and Micheál Martin said the State needs to ensure such matters are handled “quicker”.
“We’re saying to every county council in the country you have to play your part,” he told The Pat Kenny Show.
“There’s been moves in recent times where development plans were sent out mainly for political reasons to say, ‘We don’t want any of this.’
“And they’re constructed in such a way so there more or less can never be a wind farm again.”
A wind farm development on the Laois, Kilkenny, Tipperary borders. Picture by: PA Images.In 2023, 40.7% of Ireland’s electricity supply came from renewable energy - slightly more than the 38.6% recorded in 2022.
The Government has set itself a target of generating 80% of the nation’s electricity from renewable sources and Mr Martin promised this would “transform the country”.
“Solar is growing,” he said.
“The bottom line is this, do we want to continue our dependence on fossil fuels or do we want to move to a renewable space?
“The only effective way Ireland can deal with climate change and give us energy independence - and ultimately cheaper energy - is to go the renewable way.
“We’ve made tremendous progress on onshore wind over the last 20-years, we can do likewise on offshore but we have to be relentless… in our focus on getting renewables done.”
We’ve made tremendous progress on onshore wind over the last 20 years - we can do likewise on offshore.
We have to be relentless in our focus on getting renewables done. Wind and solar will transform the country.
📷: @PatKennyNT @NewstalkFM pic.twitter.com/TiUzzLDvPs
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 16, 2025
On the future of Ukraine, Mr Martin said efforts by the European Union to help the besieged nation have been “paralysed” by the Hungarian Government.
He added that dealing with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been “very frustrating”.
“We’re now in position when it comes to Ukraine and Russia where the 26 member states take a decision and Hungary abstains and will allow statements to be issued on behalf of the 26 - not the 27,” he said.
“Hungary frustrated and paralysed the European peace framework - the mechanism which was used to get support to Ukraine.
“That’s why we’ve had to go on a bilateral channel… because the European facility has been paralysed.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Mr Martin during a joint press conference following their meeting in Kyiv in 2022. Picture by: Photo/Andrew Kravchenko.Mr Martin also condemned the “very negative attacks” on the LGBTI community in Hungary and hinted there could soon be serious demands for EU treaty change.
“The veto is being used in a way that was never intended to be used; invariably, the veto is there for tax matters or that member states can use to protect their vital national interest,” he said.
“It’s very clear that Hungary has used the veto for tactical reasons or strategic reasons - but not for the protection of a national interest.
“That is very problematic and that’s why Germany and other countries have formed a group to look at treaty change - particularly from a point of view of enlargement.”
Any treaty change would need to be approved by the Irish people in a referendum.
Main image: Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressing media in the courtyard at Government Buildings. Picture by: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
