Greens unveil new 'green deal' plan

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has unveiled a new plan to help jump start Ireland's economy with investment in green energy and…

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has unveiled a new plan to help jump start Ireland's economy with investment in green energy and clean technology.

Speaking at the publication of the document at the Green Party's Convention in Wexford this evening, Mr Ryan said the plan could create thousands of jobs.

"We can work our way out of this recession. The Green New Deal outlined will create 10,000 jobs this year alone with many more to come in the future," he said.

The proposal includes a green plan for agriculture and food, reform in the energy sector to include incentives for sustainable enmergy development, and the establishment of a new action group with experts from green business and enterprise brains to draw up a green tech plan to create thousands of new jobs

"This will replace the declining sectors of our economy with new areas of growth. It will also address the weakness of our current economic systems, which contributed to the crisis we all face," said Mr Ryan.

The plan also proposes the reform of the planning regime for off-shore developments to make it more transparent and quicker, changes in the taxation system to encourage the move to a low carbon economy, increased levies on landfill and the reform of the financial regulatory system.

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist