The Republic is more vulnerable than any other country in Europe to a future energy supply crisis, Ibec warned yesterday.

The business and employers' group said three major factors heightened the risks for the Republic: the scale of reliance on imported energy, our "inadequate" infrastructure and the "lack of a national energy strategy".

Ibec wants the Government and the Commission for Energy Regulation to urgently take action to secure new investments in power generation and to develop an energy strategy.

Last year, according to Ibec, the Republic's electricity supply suffered 57 "amber alerts", or warnings that a blackout could have developed if any existing major power plant had shut down.

Ibec acknowledged that new capacity due to come on stream over the coming two years should alleviate some pressure, but said further investment would then be needed.

An international energy crisis such as the recent Russia/Ukraine dispute could, furthermore, "seriously affect" gas imports, the group added.

"Ireland is around 90 per cent dependent on imported energy," said Ibec's director of enterprise, Brendan Butler. "It is clear that this reliance on imports makes it imperative that we become more self-sufficient and broaden our fuel mix."

Mr Butler said the potential for indigenous energy supplies such as the Corrib gas field needed to be maximised.

Ibec also urged the Government to work on developing an all-island energy market.