Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan today hosted a high-level discussion for senior members of the Irish finance community on the subject of financing for sustainable energy. Today's meeting is the next logical step of the process began this July, when Minister Ryan hosted a forum on innovation and enterprise in the Energy sector.
The event was opened with a presentation from Michael Liebreich, co-founder and CEO of New Energy Finance. Others participating in the meeting included Tom Barrett, a Director of the European Investment Bank, Pat Farrell, Chief Executive of the Irish Banking Federation and Michael Ryan, Chief Executive of Merrill Lynch in Ireland and incoming President of the Irish Banking Federation.
Speaking after the conclusion of the discussion, Minister Ryan said: “The recent publication of the report by the International Panel on Climate Change was a wake-up call for Governments around the globe. Climate change is greater than any other challenge faced by mankind and one that must be addressed by all elements of society if we are to overcome it.
There is no doubt that dramatic changes are ahead of us, but rather than only challenges, I see considerable opportunities for Ireland. More than $85 billion will be invested worldwide this year in the clean energy sector. I believe it is essential that we now leverage the knowledge and expertise of Ireland’s finance community, who have been at the centre of Ireland’s economic boom of the past decade, in moving us towards a sustainable energy future.
I am aware of the good work already undertaken in the sustainable finance area, both in Ireland and globally, and hope that today’s discussions can build on that progress. I have listened with interest to the views of the finance community on the investment climate in Ireland for sustainable energy, and how it can be improved and augmented by the public sector. I hope this meeting has laid the foundation for future important cooperation and action.
ENDS
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Aire Ó Riain & Grúpa ar Ard-leibhéal ó Earnáil Airgeadais na hÉireann ag Plé Maoiniú Fuinnimh Inathnuaite
Thionól an tAire um Fhuinneamh, Éamonn Ó Riain, díospóireacht ar ard-leibhéal le baill sinsearacha de lucht airgeadais na hÉireann inniu faoi fhuinneamh inathnuaite a mhaoiniú. Dob í seo an chéad céim loighciúil eile de phróiseas a thosnaíodh mí Iúil seo chaite nuair a thionól an tAire Ó Riain fóram um nuálaíocht agus fhiontar san earnáil fhuinnimh.
D’oscail an ócáid le haitheasc ó Michael Liebreich, chomh-bhunaitheoir agus príomh-fheidhmeannach na comhlachta New Energy Finance. Ar na daoine eile a ghlac páirt san chruinniú bhí: Tomás de Bairéad, Stiúrthóir de chuid an Bhainc Eorpaigh um Infheistíocht; Padraig Ó Fearghail, príomh-fheidhmeannach Cónaidhm Baincéireachta na hÉireann; agus Mícheál Ó Riain, príomh-fheidhmeannach na comhlachta Merrill Lynch agus uachtarán le bheith ar Chónaidhm Baincéireachta na hÉireann.
Ag labhairt dó ag deireadh na díospóireachta, dúirt an tAire Ó Riain: “Ba ghlaoch chun dúiseachta é dos na rialtais ar fud an domhain nuair d’fhoilsigh an Painéal Idirnáisiúnta um Athrú Aeráide a thuarascáil le déanaí. Is déine mar dhúshlán an athrú aeráide ná aon dúshlán a thug an duine daonna aghaidh air riamh agus ní foláir do ghach aicme den tsochaí aghaidh a thabhairt air chun go sáraímis é.
“Níl aon amhras ach go bhfuil athruithe ollmhóra romhainn amach ach in ionad dúshláin a fheiscint iontu is deiseanna nach beag iad d’Éirinn a fheicimse. Infheisteofar breis agus $85 billiún ar fud an domhain i mbliana san earnáil fhuinnimh ghlan.. Creidim nach bhfuil dul as againn anois leas a bhaint as saineolas agus oilteacht lucht airgeadais na hÉireann, dream a bhí sáite i gcroí-lár borradh eacnamaíoch na hÉireann le deich mbliana anuas, chun muid a sheoladh amach anseo ar bhóthair an fhuinnimh inathnuaite.
“Is eol dom go bhfuil an-chuid dea-oibre déanta cheana féin san limistéar maoiniú inathnuaite anseo in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain agus tá súil agam go leanfaidh biseach as díospóireacht an lae inniu. Chuireas suim in éisteacht le tuairimí lucht an airgeadais i leith an timpeallachta infheistíochta in Éirinn ó thaobh fuinnimh inathnuaite de agus conas is féidir leis an earnáil phoiblí é a fheabhsú agus cur leis. Tá súil agam gur leag an cruinniú seo bun-chloch faoi chomhoibriú agus gníomhú tábhachtach amach anseo.”
CRÍOCH