State faces €7m fine for lack of action on renewables

The Government risks a €7m-a-month fine because it is more than three years late bringing EU renewable energy rules into Irish law.

The country is a front runner in the use of renewable energy, with more than 7% of energy coming from renewables in 2012, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority, and on the way to achieving its 16% target by 2020.

However, despite several warnings to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the legislation has still not been finalised.