"Green" policies are destroying this country

Carbon taxes are used for several things. Its expected to raise 9.5 billion between 2021 and 2030

• funding the retrofitting program (5 billion)
• funding 50,000 farmers to improve biodiversity, air and water on their farms (1.5 billion)
• tackling fuel poverty and providing for a Just Transition (3 billion)

In terms of that last one, examples from the 2022 budget are

• An increase to the a Qualified Child Payment of €2 per week for children under 12 and €3 per week for children over 12 - This protects low income families and will reduce child poverty;
• An increase in the Living Alone Allowance of €3 per week - People living alone are often the elderly most at risk of poverty or people suffering from a disability. These groups are likely to have higher energy needs than average;
• An increase to the Fuel Allowance of €5 per week - This will compensate a broad range of lower income households (since the Fuel Allowance is means-tested) for the additional energy costs they are likely to incur due to an increase in the carbon tax. This will be combined with a broadening of the threshold for Fuel Allowance eligibility and an increase in the income allowed for the means test that is applied to applicants;
• An increase in the income threshold for the Working Family Payment of €10 per week – Research has found that children in energy poverty have a greater likelihood of respiratory illness. Using carbon tax funds to compensate low paid employees with children will lead to improved health outcomes, particularly when combined with the qualifying child payment.

Details on other allocations of funds

Info source from below

The ABP decision to quash the LNG application is being challenged in the High Court

Given how the courts have ruled in recent climate related cases, I can't see the challenge being successful but we'll wait and see

The Celtic Interconnector construction has kicked off

It has been accompanied by a Joint Declaration of Intent from both govts. Details below

Key aspects of the new Joint Declaration of Intent on Energy Transition Cooperation include:

• In the near term, both countries will endeavour to make progress on the assessment of the opportunity for increasing electricity interconnection capacities, building on the ongoing work at EU level on the Offshore Network Development Plan which is due to be published early next year. Should that assessment indicate that a second interconnector could be considered, the signatories would be positively disposed to the TSOs advancing towards a prefeasibility study to progress towards a second interconnector
• Increased cooperation on areas of onshore energy development: including the sharing of information on the design of onshore renewable energy auctions; seeking innovative ways to increase the uptake of rooftop solar; and sharing best practices on the permitting of onshore renewable energy projects
• Offshore energy: A commitment to accelerate the deployment of offshore renewables and offshore renewable energy systems, including intensifying cooperation on offshore energy, bilaterally and regionally in the North Sea
• A willingness to jointly assess how hybrid Interconnectors (which allow clusters of offshore wind farms to connect all at once, plugging into the energy systems of neighbouring countries) and other cross border projects could contribute to further market integration and future sector coupling
• Following the signing a Memorandum of Understanding by the TSO operators, EirGrid and RTE on November 13, 2023, both countries intend to establish specific cooperation frameworks at Ministry and regulator levels to facilitate mutually beneficial offshore transmission and market integration arrangements
• Planned discussions on potential measures for ports to enhance offshore wind development; and the skills and workforce requirements of offshore wind development
• Recognise that hydrogen produced by electrolysis has the potential to become a zero-carbon substitute for fossil fuels in many hard to decarbonise sectors. Both countries will endeavour to foster and deepen their dialogue on methods and the role that hydrogen produced by electrolysis will play in the French and Irish energy systems
• Both countries will also deepen collaboration between respective energy agencies. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) and Sustainable Energy authority of Ireland (SEAI). Collaboration will include exchanging best practices and identifying research/innovation opportunities to collaborate on. Collaboration areas include renewable electricity, decarbonised heat, energy efficiency, transport, climate change
• The sharing of best practices to address other challenges, such as social acceptance of renewable energy projects and delays associated to planning
• Both Ireland and France also intend to promote market-driven public-private partnerships and encourage cooperation between French and Irish companies and other relevant actors

Fair point, though my question stands regarding a source for this statement:

I'm really hoping you didn't make that up as I'd love to dive into the data

Its the first of a few connecting us to the EU grid, with additional connectors being looked at for Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands as well as additional connections to France and the UK on top of those currently underway