Minister Sherlock expresses concerns to An Bord Pleanala regarding proposed Ringaskiddy incinerator

I am TD for Cork East and Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I served as Minister of State in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from 2011 to 2014.

During Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013, I chaired the EU Council of Ministers that concluded the deal with Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and the European Parliament on the Horizon 2020 research programs. This programme runs from 2014 to 2020

One of the key pillars of Horizon 2020 is to address societal challenges.

One such societal challenge is the exploration of new alternative energy platforms that effectively reduce the carbon footprint.

Approximately €3.1 billion is made available for climate action, the environment and resource efficiency. Investment in large scale Marine Renewable Energy platforms dorms part of this pillar

There is a policy context for the allocation of European Union Money, to be divested for Research purposes, particularly for Maritime Research.

In line with Government policy, Science Foundation Ireland, under the National Research Prioritisation Exercise has designated Marine Renewable Energy as a key driver for meeting Ireland’s Renewable Energy Targets beyond 2020. Cork Harbour is a designated beneficiary under this policy.

As a former Minister for Research & Innovation, I launched the SFI Research Centre – MaREI, which is located at the IMERC Campus in Ringaskiddy.
This €29 million centre, funded through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Science Foundation Ireland, incorporating 45 industry partners, is positioning Ireland at the forefront of Marine Renewable Energy globally.
It’s aim is to achieve innovative commercially successful marine energy industries. The creation of MaREI facilitates collaboration between internationally recognised Principal Investigators from UCC, NUIG, UL, MU, UCD and CIT.

The significant taxpayer investment in this facility is with a view to ensuring that Cork Harbour becomes a global reference point for “device design and modelling, energy conversion and storage, novel materials and structural testing, operations and decision support, energy policy and modelling and environmental monitoring” in the Marine Renewable Energy Space.

The link between MaREI and Horizon 2020 is not coincidental. MaREI is designed to leverage further investment from the €80 billion Horizon 2020 fund.

I am concerned that the construction of an incinerator in close proximity to this site will compromise further inward investment in MaREI and Beaufort.

There is a masterplan for the creation of a public amenity and innovation space to create jobs in the clean-tech sector.

The aim of IMERC & MaREI is to leverage funding from the Horizon 2020 fund. IMERC is the vehicle through which we can attract Foreign Direct Investment.

The people of Cobh and the Lower Harbour area are adamant in their view that the future of the Lower Harbour, their Harbour, is based on renewal and rebirth and a clear movement away from industries that are perceived to be deleterious to their health and wellbeing and towards a Lower Harbour that sees inward investment in marine renewable energies. As well as the MaREI and Beaufort Centres, we have also secured a €30 million investment in wind turbines through the Cork Lower Harbour Energy Group. This investment helps that help to protect the 4,000 jobs located in Cork Harbour.

I believe that the Indaver proposal runs contrary to the wishes of the people.
I believe that it contradicts a clear Government policy that has designated the lower Harbour as a global reference point for positive economic growth through Research & Development in the Maritime sector. I would not wish to see this investment being compromised in any way
I am fearful that, through the imposition of the Development, we would jeopardise the gains that we have made in transforming the Lower Harbour as a global site for the Maritime Sector.
Clean Energy represents the future of the Harbour.