Dr. Brian Motherway:

On behalf of my colleagues, I thank the Acting Chairman and committee members for the invitation to come before the joint committee. We are pleased to be here to participate in the debate and to see the Bill progressing. Like many delegates, we share a sense of urgency about accelerating our action on the climate.

For a number of years the SEAI has been working on a range of analyses on the energy dimension of the climate, which is our area of expertise. We have carried out a number of studies, including a number of sectoral roadmaps for 2050 pathways to decarbonisation or substantial decarbonisation. We have brought hard copies for the committee and the content is also available on our website. All of the work we have done reflects the point made to the committee by other delegates, which is that energy, in all its dimensions, has a very substantial opportunity to contribute to carbon abatement, often with very strong positive benefits such as job creation, cost reduction for homes and businesses and the alleviation of fuel poverty.

It all comes down to the simple fact that we import 90% of all the energy we use, which is a major financial drain out of the country. When we invest in energy efficiency measures, we divert money with which we previously enriched another economy by buying its fossil fuels and keep it in the local economy to spend on labour and technology. Similarly with renewable energy, we have an opportunity to permanently reduce our dependence on other people's commodities and keep money in the local economy and exploit what is, in Ireland's case, a very substantial natural resource.

We have seen in practice quite a bit of progress in recent years. I will mention several highlights. The committee is aware that retrofit is an active recognised sector in Ireland. In recent years the SEAI has supported energy upgrades in approximately 250,000 homes. Approximately 150 retrofits are carried out every day in homes. This employs many people, reduces costs and takes people away from fuel poverty. It also substantially reduces emissions. Wind energy levels have grown substantially in recent years and are now making a major contribution to Ireland's carbon emissions reduction figure. They are also reducing our natural gas imports and do all of this without increasing consumer bills.

We have made a start, but, as the committee will agree and as has been the subject of this debate, much more action is required, as is an acceleration of pace. Central to this and of core relevance to the debate on the Bill is how, at governance level in Ireland, we identify the priorities and opportunities to reduce our carbon emissions and, in so doing, target and mandate resources towards these areas to accelerate action. This involves modelling and analysis and learning on the ground. Most fundamentally, it involves structures to enable us to share this learning and understand where the opportunities are and what are the costs, benefits and other implications before ultimately assigning the resources to get it done. If the Bill can accelerate progress in this regard, build on the political leadership we have already seen and create opportunities for us to learn from what we have already done, it will do excellent work.

We will happily answer questions committee members may have.