Debate contribution: Green Energy Transition

Debate contribution by Mr Patsy McGlone on 24 March 2025.

MLA

Mr Patsy McGlone

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

24 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Green Energy Transition

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4865311

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will start by saying, "Thank you" to everyone who contributed to the debate. It has been a very valuable debate that flagged up a number of issues. I will pick up on them as I go through my speech. My colleague Sinéad mentioned how we are really falling behind the pace of development and delivery in neighbouring jurisdictions. She said that climate targets are at risk, there is an increased dependence on fossil fuels, planning policies are outdated and there is need for increased commitment. She also said that we are scaling down our use of renewables instead of increasing and incentivising them. She also mentioned investors going elsewhere, the need for long-term support to stabilise the cost of offshore wind and the expansion of solar supplies. She also talked about bureaucracy and outdated policies. I will add that the Department's policies and practices are not just confined to renewables. Many other areas, whether they be local development plans or other major issues, are called into the Department, where they seem to get engaged in interminable delays. That is creating major problems not just for renewables development but for developments elsewhere. A major project is required in the Department that is based solely on that. The planning system has been proven to be slower than it was a decade ago. We had the review of public administration (RPA), which was supposed to suggest at least some improvement to the efficiency of our local authorities, including in planning. It seems that that has got sucked back into the bad old ways of how it was in the former Department. Gary Middleton referred to a "just" and "affordable" transition. While there has been a lot of debate in the Assembly on what a just transition is, with a focus on how it applies to agriculture, it should be said that just transition applies to every single walk of life and every single Department. Therefore, I remind Members that, when they talk about just transition, that applies not just to the Department for Infrastructure or DAERA but to every single Department that your colleagues are sitting at. You are at the helm, including in Finance and other bodies, so it is up to you to lobby your colleagues to make sure that a just transition is not only financed but implemented to allow a transition in the future that is smooth for the farming community, businesses and people with disabilities or transportation difficulties. Just remember that, Members. KPMG was referred to, and Gary Middleton talked about the lack of growth and halting growth in the green sector. I welcome the Alliance Party amendment, even though David Honeyford had a wee touch at us. My good comrade Mark here has given you a sufficient rebuttal. That is maybe food for thought for your party colleagues.

What do I say? Oh deary, deary me. Tut-tut. To get back to the serious matter, I welcome the Alliance amendment.

Sorry, I am running out of time, David. I welcome the fact that your amendment mentions taking an all-island approach to the matter. Yes, that is very important, especially when the rest of our island is way ahead of us because of, again, efficient and good government. The Department needs to get its act together. We accept that. You referred to companies that are about to draw a line through Northern Ireland and move their investment to the rest of the island and to Scotland, and you said that planning is a major issue. Emma Sheerin welcomed the motion and the need for the Programme for Government to make investments. Diana Armstrong referred to just transition. I get your point about support for smaller projects, because their cumulative benefit is very important. Those projects should be nurtured because, as we know in Northern Ireland, the small business sector is crucial to us all. Andrew McMurray referred to the issue with the planning system and the time that it takes to process major planning applications. That goes back to DAERA. Timothy referred to RHI and broken promises, but I have to take a wee bit of a deep breath and say this: we had a storm recently, we have had serious rainfall and the polar ice cap is melting. We all have a collective responsibility to do what we can to prevent such things. The Minister referred to a number of issues, including meeting targets and cross-government collaboration. When it comes to just transition, it is about not just talking the talk but making sure that every Department works up its policies to ensure that we justly transition to a new future. We are looking ahead to how things might be in 50 —

— or 100 years' time and the future for our young people.

805 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:13 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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