Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes.

My difficulty is that the citizens themselves do not feel part of the debate about climate change, renewable energy targets and so forth. They think this is the preserve of big energy companies and big developers who are coming in and cannibalising their environment for big profits. That is where the argument about the infrastructure is being lost. Individuals in their own homes do not make the connection between turning on the light switch and where the energy comes from. They think there is somebody off in the distance making a big profit from this at their expense. I am not sure how we get that across the line.

I also ask the witnesses to give their opinion on the nuclear industry in the context of climate change. Apparently nuclear power is now being viewed as one of the quickest, most efficient ways of reducing our emissions.