Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is an opportunity. We have just considered the report of the credit union movement on people's concerns about the cost of energy. We are acutely aware that there is an issue at a household level. It is essential that we link energy security and climate change by way of legislation and achieve returns by meeting our targets.

We will discuss local government later. Some London boroughs are meeting targets and drawing in community groups in a way that engages people more directly than, for example, asking the ESB to do some work. Do our guests agree that we need to change people's mindsets in respect of transport and their homes? According to the report, our homes produce 47% more CO2 than the average dwelling in the UK. It is at this level we need to start engaging people. At what point will we reach that stage? I am concerned that we will have good policy and legislation, but that the public response will be behind the curve. The public could be engaged earlier. What can be done in this regard in the meantime?

Ireland has a supply of 28 days of fossil fuel. Given the recent economic earthquake, our attention has been drawn to our exposure to the lack of a longer period of energy security.