WESTPORT, Ireland - Ireland's main government party has pushed energy towards the top of its agenda ahead of a general election next year as the country looks to reduce its dependence on increasingly expensive fuel imports.
Energy was one of the main topics of discussion at a day and half long meeting of Fianna Fail politicians this week -- one of several such "think-in" meetings being held by political parties before parliament resumes shortly and ahead of polls next year.
Ireland imports more than 70 percent of its total energy requirements, and, like many countries, is keen to find sources of energy that are less at risk from global instability.
At the same time, it needs to fulfil global commitments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.
"The dramatic increases in the international prices of oil and gas are going to continue to have a huge impact," Finance Minister Brian Cowen said in a document summarising the meeting on Tuesday.
"It has reinforced the need to put energy policy even higher on the public agenda ... We need to reduce energy consumption, increase the amount which comes from renewable resources and make sure that social and economic needs are met."
During World War II, Ireland relied on peat to keep trains running and bread ovens alight after British coal imports dried up. It currently depends on two pipelines from the United Kingdom for 90 percent of its gas requirements.
A spat earlier this year between Russia and Ukraine that disrupted gas deliveries to Europe highlighted Ireland's dependence on fuel imports and its strategic vulnerability, given that geography puts it at the end of Europe's pipelines.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
