A decisive shift by the State towards green enterprise could create 80,000 jobs in future years, a Government-backed report has claimed
The report of the High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise was published by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and the Minster for Energy Eamon Ryan at Government Buildings today.
The group, established last May, has identified a series of actions that it says will help develop a vibrant green enterprise sector in Ireland.
The chairman of the group, Joe Harford, told the press conference that there where many opportunities for the green economy to make a major contribution to Ireland’s economy. He emphasised the need for the Government and all relevant state agencies to move quickly to make sure that this could happen.
The paper identifies a number of sectors in which Ireland would have first-mover advantage. They include renewable energy resources such as wind energy and ocean. Together they have the potential to create almost 18,000 jobs by 2020.
Mr Ryan pointed out that the Government’s target of renewables providing 15 per cent of energy by 2010 has already been achieved. He said that on windy days, renewables provide up to half of the country’s energy needs.
The group also says there is huge potential for other forms of renewable technologies, including a new smart grid, smart meters, bio-energy, solar energy and electric vehicles.
It has also recommended an ambitious retrofit programme for Irish homes, the introduction of the carbon tax, as well as further improvements to standards for energy-efficient homes.
Among the eye-catching initiatives are plans for green enterprise zones, which will cluster enterprises specialising in green products and services, as well as a green IFSC cluster which would accommodate green investment vehicles, green fund administration and carbon-trading markets.
The report also recommends the creation of what it calls “world-class research centres in niche areas.”
These would be the development of products and services where Ireland could have first-mover advantage. The group concludes that some of these areas are not yet immediately apparent or clear. It says they will need to be identified as a matter of urgency.
“Irish research in the green sector lacks an over-arching strategy. Much of the focus to date in the green area has been on energy research and development,” the report states.
“An R&D research strategy for the wider environmental goods and services sector which includes a strong focus on waster and water is required.”
It said the Government needs to establish Ireland as a test-bed centre for areas such as wind and marine renewable energy where Ireland already has a clear competitive advantage.
“The green economy is developing in Ireland and will continue to with the help of this report”, Mr Ryan said.
“Since entering Government, the semi state energy companies in Ireland have gone green with investment plans of over €30 billion over the next decade. Over 15,400 jobs have been announced in the green economy sector. If this was a single factory, we would all still be speaking of it."
Mr Ryan said he would make the implementation of the "Green IFSC" and electric vehicles a priority next year.
“We are greening this economy, providing jobs, cutting costs and carbon at the same time. The semi-state sector, private industry and the people are all facing in one direction led by Government," he said.
"Supporting the growth of the green enterprise sector will bring new opportunities for Irish business, create jobs and attract investment to our economy, ultimately contributing to economic recovery and growth,” said Mr Cowen.
Fine Gael's energy spokesman Simon Coveney branded the report as a "PR exercise" and said the Government needs to concentrate on a programme of delivery rather than "more reports and analysis".
He claimed the report was "knee-jerk" reaction to the publication of his party's NewERA policy last week. Fine Gael claims its policy could provide 105,000 extra jobs.
Labour’s energy spokeswoman Liz McManus claimed the policy lacked ambition. "This is just a re-statement of Government policy,” she said. “There is little new in the latest policy update from the Minister, and its shows how poor the Government performance is in exploiting and expanding a dynamic area in job creation beyond the tired and stated positions already taken.”