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

Our committee is going to look at prices and so forth. Is the Department the parent funder of the Commission for Energy Regulation? Does that come from the Minister's Department's budget? How much money is being spent on research and development for energy or alternative sources of energy, particularly biomass? I have looked at Drax in the UK. It constitutes 10% of the UK energy market. Is there any serious examination of biomass in this country and smaller units throughout Europe that are using timber and other sources to generate energy?

I have a major issue with the Commission for Energy Regulation. It is doing the job it has, but does it require more powers? Is the Department the parent funder? What money is being spent on research and development on biomass? How much is being spent on the Department's subsidy for wind energy? Is there concern within the Department at the moment about that subsidy, that it would end when wind farms are coming onto the system in future? Is an alternative being considered or is the grid already saturated or likely to be saturated in the next while in relation to wind energy?