Public support for wind energy is fuelling optimism
A new national survey by Wind Energy Ireland found that 80% of the public support wind energy development, with 62% backing a wind farm in their local area — which marks a steady increase in support for Ireland's leading renewable resource.
The survey found that more affordable electricity, reducing carbon emissions and positive environmental impacts were the driving factors of support. Wind energy's role in supporting Irish energy independence was also a leading motivator of public backing.
'Irish people are hugely supportive of wind energy and know it is the leading solution to rising energy costs and the climate emergency,' said Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland. 'Wind power is already helping to reduce electricity prices, cut carbon emissions, and create jobs in communities across the country.
"With public support stronger than ever, we need to accelerate investment in grid infrastructure and skills to maximise the benefits for families, businesses and the environment."
The report also found that 75% of those surveyed support offshore wind energy, with 82% recognising its role in securing Ireland's energy supply.
'Offshore wind represents an enormous opportunity for Ireland — it can be the basis of our national energy independence,' added Mr Cunniffe. 'Research has shown that Ireland's offshore wind farms could generate €38 billion for the Irish economy by 2050 if we can unlock its potential.
"This survey proves we have the support of the Irish people but they want to see more and faster delivery. The Government needs to identify new sites for offshore wind energy projects around our coasts and reinforce the electricity grid to accommodate the enormous clean power these wind farms can produce.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork hurling fans' spending in Dublin plummeted following All-Ireland defeat
Disappointed Cork hurling fans' spending in Dublin plummeted following their county's All-Ireland final defeat compared to how much they splashed out following their semi-final win. According to its data, AIB's Cork customers spent €920,000 in Dublin on July 5, the day of the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Dublin. However, on July 20, the day Cork lost to Tipperary in the final, it fell by 13%. In contrast, Tipperary fans spent 27% more on the day their team claimed the Liam MacCarthy Cup than they had on the day of their semi-final win over Kilkenny on July 6. During the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final on July 27, Donegal fans spent 12% more in Dublin compared to the Kerry fans, despite their team losing on the day. Overall, AIB's Spend Trend showed customer spending in July was up 9% compared to the same month in 2024. Online spend has been growing more strongly, up 14%, than in-store spend, up 4%, over the 12 months. The average in-store transaction was €28.80 compared to €96.90 for the average online transaction. AIB's head of consumer Adrian Moynihan said the data highlighted the 'resilience of consumer confidence'. 'While the hospitality sector experienced mixed results, with pub spending down but restaurant and hotel spending up, the data underscores the dynamic nature of consumer behaviour during the peak tourist season,' he added. Spending in pubs was down 9% compared to last year, whereas restaurant spend was up 10% and the amount of money spent in Irish hotels was up 3%. Groceries was one of few sectors where in-store spend held up strongly, with spending 6% higher overall, and 93% of those purchases made in stores rather than online. Spending on clothing rose just 1% in July compared to the same month a year ago. Entertainment spending was up 8% in July, while health spending rose by 7%. The data was compiled from 78 million card transactions carried out by AIB customers in store and online during July 2025.
The Journal
8 hours ago
- The Journal
Fine Gael councillor didn't declare 50% stake in firm accused of charging nurses unlawful fees
FINE GAEL COUNCILLOR and former South Dublin Mayor Baby Pereppadan did not declare his 50% shareholding in a recruitment agency that has been accused of charging migrant nurses unlawful fees. In 2022, 2023, and 2024 Pereppadan failed to disclose his interest in Angel Care Consultancy Limited. The councillor has denied knowledge of nurses being charged additional fees and said that he was not involved in the daily operations of the company. For a period of time in 2022-2023 he was also a director, which he has also not declared. Councillor Pereppadan was appointed director in November 2022 and resigned in May of the following year. Pereppadan told The Journal earlier this month that he had been offered 'a 50% shareholding' in the company as a gesture of goodwill after assisting in some of the early administration aspects of the company in 2021. He has not responded to questions on why he did not declare his directorship and a 50% shareholding in the company. The Journal Investigates last week reported on the councillor's interest in the company and that he is a former director of the recruitment agency. The company has been accused of charging three migrant nurses thousands of euros in agency fees on top of their standard costs, as part of their recruitment to work in an Irish nursing home. One of these nurses claims she was directed to pay the equivalent of €3,000 directly into the bank account of Britto Pereppadan, Baby's son, who is also a Fine Gael councillor in Tallaght, and a hospital doctor. Britto Pereppadan does not have any shares in Angel Care and he is not formally associated with the company. Advertisement He has said that the payment of €3,000 was made to him for a personal debt by another co-founder of the company, businessman Babu Valooran Kochuvarkey. These kinds of agency fees are not allowed under Irish employment law, under rules that are designed to stop people from profiting directly from those seeking work. Fine Gael reserving judgement Since the article was published on Friday, People Before Profit and Sinn Féin TDs have called on Fine Gael to launch an investigation into the councillors, and a complaint has been made to the South Dublin County Council Ethics Registrar. The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) clearly sets out in its code of conduct for councillors that they must furnish the Ethics Registrar of their council with an annual declaration of their interests, including financial, property, and business interests. Records show that Baby Pereppadan reported no company directorships or shareholdings in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Baby Pereppadan was a director in Angel Care from 22 November 2022 until 19 May 2023. When he resigned his daughter, a 22-year-old dentistry student, was appointed as director. Baby Pereppadan has said that his daughter's involvement was 'nominal' and 'administrative' and that she has not had any involvement in running the company. In response to a series of questions, Baby Pereppadan said that he did not know anything about agency fees being charged to the three nurses. 'I have no knowledge of the allegations regarding agency fees being charged to nurses, and I am shocked to learn of these claims, should they be true. I have had no involvement in the day-to-day activities of the company, nor was I made aware of any extra fees being levied,' Baby Pereppadan said in an initial response to The Journal Investigates . Related Reads Two FG councillors have 'questions to answer' over migrant nurse agency fees, say opposition TDs Fine Gael councillor co-owns company accused of charging migrant nurses unlawful 'agency fees' He also said that he was given a 50% ownership stake in the company as a gesture of goodwill from Valooran, the other co-founder. Fine Gael response Baby Pereppadan's business partner businessman Babu Valooran Kochuvarkey has claimed that nurses had full knowledge of the fees that they paid, and that the two sums of just over €3,000 and one sum of €3,600 that were charged to the three nurses were expenses related. Mr Valooran said that he would further engage with one nurse who had requested a refund of additional fees. The three nurses have told The Journal that these were lump sum agency fees that they were asked to pay at the outset of their recruitment, and that they themselves paid for expenses including accommodation in Dublin during their examination period and transport in cash; they have also provided documentation which appears to support their claims. Britto Pereppadan has claimed that his father's business partner, Babu Valooran Kochuvarkey, had owed him a sum of money, which he paid to him, and that he didn't know how it was obtained. Asked for a response to the revelations in the article last Friday, a spokesperson for Fine Gael said that Councillor Baby Pereppadan had himself made the party aware of the piece. Yesterday at a press conference Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris said that he is going to 'reserve judgement' on the matters covered in the article until he is provided with clarifications by the Pereppadans. Asked if he planned to take action on any of the revelations Harris said: 'I understand that the councillors are disputing some of that and are currently seeking legal advice, and my party headquarters has sought more information from them in relation to that and I await the outcome of that.' When pressed on whether Fine Gael would investigate further the Tánaiste said that the two councillors 'will provide my party headquarters with more information and I will wait until I have all the facts'. 'Once I have all the facts, I will make a judgement then,' Harris added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Agriland
8 hours ago
- Agriland
Former farm leaders oppose Mercosur deal at Tullamore Show
Former leaders of two of the country's leading farm organisations joined forces at the 2025 Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show to opposed the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement. Former Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president John Dillon and former Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) president Pat O'Rourke – now a political and agriculture adviser to MEP Ciaran Mullooly - made a joint effort at the event on Sunday (August 10) to warn about the deal. The two men said that said the Mercosur deal will have a "devastating impact" on Irish beef farmers. If ratified by EU member states, the deal would grant significantly increased access for South American beef into the European market. Speaking at the show, the two former farm leaders highlighted what they called a "massive price gap" between Brazilian and Irish beef, which they said was driven by a differences in production standards. Dillon claimed: "The farmgate price for beef in Brazil is just €3.20/kg. In Ireland, it's €9.50/kg. That difference is explained by the lower animal welfare standards, use of growth hormones, and weaker environmental protections in Mercosur countries. "The structural disadvantages for Irish farmers are equally stark. While farms in Mercosur countries can be as large as 15,000ha, the average Irish family farm is just 34ha. 'Irish farmers cannot and will not be able to compete on price with beef produced under vastly different rules and on an industrial scale. If the government is serious about backing Irish farmers, there's only one option – say no to Mercosur," O'Rourke said. The two men jointly called on the government to take a firm stand against the deal in upcoming EU negotiations, warning that its ratification would undermine the Irish beef sector, threaten rural livelihoods, and reward production systems that fail to meet the high standards demanded of EU farmers. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, recently said he had discussed international trade developments, including the Mercosur agreement, with his counterparts from France and Germany, among others. He said: "The government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Indeed, recent developments in the global trading environment have highlighted the importance of market diversification via an expanded set of EU free trade agreements. "We have always been clear, that such agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that our farmers' livelihoods must not be undermined through weak or ineffective environmental standards in other countries." "Our position is clearly outlined in the Programme for Government, which states that the government will work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal," the Tánaiste said.
