Two parties aiming to form the next Irish government have committed to making the country a “European leader” in offshore wind.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have drawn up a policy document that makes the high-level pledge as part of proposals for a ‘New Green Deal’.
The parties are focused on exploiting the potential off the west coast in particular, according to the blueprint for government.
Leo Varadkar-led Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, lead by Michael Martin (pictured), are attempting to form a government by wooing one or more of the smaller groupings in the Irish parliament, including Labour, the Social Democrats and the Greens.
Fianna Fail won 38 seats in February’s election with Fine Gael on 35 and are attempting to put together an administration without Sinn Fein, which secured a record 37 seats.
Ireland currently has one operational offshore wind farm, the 25MW Arklow Bank project.