Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten has called on his EU colleagues to become as "self-sufficient as possible in terms of energy" with the primary focus on renewable energy and driving energy efficiency.
In his address to the European Council, Minister Naughten said this renewed focus is not just necessary to meet our climate targets but, from an economic perspective, it will ensure EU economies will grow in a "long-term sustainable manner".
Decouple economic growth from oil availability and price
"Presently we see the eurozone economy beginning to slow down as a direct result of rising oil prices. We must decouple economic growth from oil availability and price. Using renewable energy and improving the efficient use of energy across our economies releases the EU from the constraining impact of fossil fuels," he said.
The minister emphasised the need for the EU to become self-sufficient in the production of biofuels.
"We cannot replace imported oil with unsustainable imported palm oil, this undermines our long-term economic sustainability as well as transferring emissions to another part of the globe. We must bring renewed focus to the development of second-generation biofuels which are based on waste streams, thereby having a double impact on our environment."
Minister Naughten also supported measures to drive greater use of electricity in road transport and better mechanisms to install renewables on buildings to support micro-generation and self-consumption by families and businesses.