BONDHOLDERS MIGHT be nervous about putting their money to work in Ireland, so it’s nice to hear that someone is well disposed to investing here.

At an Irish Wind Energy conference in Galway yesterday, Christopher Knowles, head of climate change and environment at the European Investment Bank, said there was a “great degree of excitement about what’s happening here”.

“We would certainly be favourably disposed at the European Investment Bank (EIB) to what’s happening in the Irish renewable sector.”

The EIB last year invested €200 million in Irish onshore renewable projects.

“It also helps Ireland that it has a very good track record in Europe with handling investment, across structural funds in particular,” Knowles added.

“Ireland is seen as a good student, as it were, in Europe . . . for sure, Ireland represents a good investment option. The European Investment Bank has the track record here to prove it.”

Before the back-slapping could start in earnest at the bar, though, Barry Gavin, chief investment officer with Gaelectric, gave a more sober assessment of the financial environment here.

The past two years had seen a 50 per cent reduction in the number of lenders in the Irish sector providing capital for wind projects, he said, and regulatory uncertainly was also weighing on the sector.

“It has the potential to significantly impede our ability to attract investment in the industry. Policymakers must be aware that their actions send a signal to the market as to their long-term view for our industry.”