Senator's 'climate-change agenda' comments were 'not informed', Ryan says

Fianna Fáil senator Lisa Chambers called for a 'break' from the Green Party earlier in the week, stating that Mr Ryan had put a 'green straitjacket' on wind energy development

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Eamon Ryan has called comments by Fianna Fáil's Seanad leader on the Green Party's climate policy "inaccurate" and "not informed".

Senator Lisa Chambers, who is a candidate for next month's European elections, on Monday called for a "break" with the Green Party — saying that Mr Ryan particularly had put a "straitjacket" on development of floating wind energy in the West.

In a statement posted to the Fianna Fáil website, Ms Chambers said that she "strongly believes" that if the Government is serious about addressing the economic disparity between Dublin and the West of Ireland, it must "reconsider its relationship with Eamon Ryan and the Green Party's climate-change agenda".

"The climate-change agenda, as it currently stands, is confining our regions to a 'green straitjacket', preventing us from capitalising on the incredible resources we have," Ms Chambers said. 

She has accused Mr Ryan of impeding the progress of floating offshore wind farms along the Atlantic seaboard, which could position Ireland as a global leader in renewable energy.

Senator Lisa Chambers accused the Green Party leader of impeding the progress of floating offshore wind farms along the Atlantic seaboard.

Ms Chambers claimed that not initiating the zoning of the west coast for the development of floating offshore wind farms "has left Ireland lagging behind in an industry where it has unmatched potential".

Economists like David McWilliams have pointed out Ireland's opportunity to become the 'Qatar of renewable energy' with the right infrastructure. 

"However, the Green Party's narrow focus and sluggish pace are preventing us from achieving this," she said.

However at a briefing on Wednesday, Mr Ryan hit back, saying that the West would not be a feasible place to build floating offshore wind turbines due to the depth of the seas and size of the swells. 

He said that he did not believe the comments "informed the Irish public in an accurate way".

He said that he would "love" to see floating platforms used to generate wind energy,  but that it was "not commercially viable" at the moment and it was "not honest" to suggest otherwise.

“I’ve talked to all the main international, global leaders on this and they say to me that, no, what was said...on Monday is not true, it’s not accurate, its not informed.” 

A spokesperson for Fianna Fáil said on Tuesday that Tánaiste Micheál Martin does not agree with Ms Chambers' opinion on breaking with the Green Party.