SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability remains a key focus for the Irish Government in 2023, not least due to the Green Party’s presence in the tripartite coalition, but also due to the energy pressures brought about by the invasion of Ukraine. Developments in areas of sustainable transport, renewable energy as well as energy supply and demand will feature heavily and reflect upon Ireland’s climate commitments at EU and international levels.
The transport sector will continue to undergo significant changes as it transitions to a greener operating model. The Government aims to encourage this through the electrification of the public transport and private vehicle fleets, research into alternative fuel options and enhanced uptake of cycling and personal mobility modes.
The Government is also keen to address concerns surrounding the security of electricity supply, by publishing a new energy storage framework and developing policies to manage electricity demand levels. The Government will seek to drive the supply of renewable energy, particularly in the area of offshore wind following the establishment of the Marine Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) in Q2, and the commencement of construction of the Celtic Interconnector between Ireland and France, due to be completed in 2026.
