Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for attending the meeting. We have discussed this issue with them on several occasions. In terms of energy efficiency initiatives, retrofitting and the better energy warmer homes scheme, there is a great deal of good work being done and many people are benefiting from these upgrades. Such schemes have been operating through the local partnership and Leader groups. Do the delegates envisage that continuing in the future?

Everybody has bought into renewables, but there is huge concern in regard to the lack of consultation taking place. I joined other committee members in visiting a number of wind farms and have been constantly interacting with people in regard to such projects. We have very well respected people challenging the whole wind energy initiative, as I indicated privately to the delegates when we met.

Both the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and society in general face a major challenge in the context of considering whether wind energy has a future or whether we should move to an offshore as opposed to an onshore option.

The warmer homes and retrofit schemes sponsored by the authority are excellent initiatives and they give rise to fantastic benefits. Since we last spoke to our guests, I have examined the position with regard to the community projects with which the authority is involved and obtained details relating to them in order that we might further advance some of our own projects, such as those relating to GAA clubs and so forth.

In the context of renewable energy, an overall target, to be achieved by 2020, has been set for the EU as a whole as opposed to there being individual targets for the various member states. Will this change the position regarding the level of urgency among member states in the context of achieving their targets?