Ms Julie O'Neill:

It would not be the first time that I did not agree with Mr. Colm McCarthy. When I was Secretary General of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, I had Mr. McCarthy expressing his views on various forms of public transport. I have huge regard for him as an individual. I have seen his arguments. It is clear that if one reads his article at face value he does not suggest an alternative to renewable energy - he essentially says forget about all of it. Essentially, he implies that we should not continue as we are going, but this would mean failing to meet our targets, which are set for us at European level and which are legally binding and carry significant fines, and would mean perpetuating a dependence on imported fuels. In this case, I do not agree with Mr. Colm McCarthy. I do not think he has given us a plan B that is viable.

In regard to the policing of our grants scheme, Deputy Moynihan was referring to a small number of frauds that were uncovered a few years ago and were referred to by the Comptroller and Auditor General in reporting on our accounts. There is no doubt that when running grant schemes not just for poor homes, but wider homes, one will always be vulnerable to cowboy operators. In the past few years, the authority has carried out a review of the arrangements in place for monitoring and systematically testing the grants scheme in place and subjecting individuals grants to review. We do that on a risk-based analysis. That enables us to pick up on operators who are not compliant; in other words, if any type of fraud is taking place which is designed to pretend the work has been done, it also picks up on standards. It ensures that the work is done to the highest possible standards. I am satisfied that we have a robust control framework in place. Clearly, it is something one will always have to watch. There is also a potential to be vulnerable when one is spending State money but I am satisfied that the control framework is in place.