Governments in Europe and around the world, have agreed to take action to make drastic reductions to greenhouse gas emissions and, with added impetus due to heightened energy security concerns, national renewable energy policies must adapt to keep pace in order to support this sector. This study examines the changes to renewable energy policy in Ireland in general, and offshore renewable energy policy in particular, and analyses whether these changes are robust enough to support a nascent Irish wave energy technology development sector. This study provides a comparison to successful wind energy policy measures implemented in Denmark and with examples being set by international institutions in Europe. This study will look at relevant legislation, test facilities, consenting procedures, feed-in tariffs, environmental impact, intellectual property protection and government financial support and will discuss how the focus on offshore wind by policy architects will effect wave energy technology development. Conclusions will show that many policy elements vital for the growth and support of the wave energy sector, formerly lacking, have been addressed. It will be shown that the changes have largely come about due to internationally prescribed obligations, and the perceived demand for offshore wind, and that wave energy technology developers in Ireland will potentially both benefit and lose from this. Further analysis and the passage of time are required to determine whether the new policies are fully embraced and enforced.