Mr. Jim Gannon:

I would appreciate it if the Senator would do so. I am nearly at the end. I will respond to one or two of Deputy Eamon Ryan's comments. Certain activities are under way in response to the work of the Citizens' Assembly and in response to some signals that were sent. They were under way by the time the report came out. The Deputy mentioned the assembly's recommendations relating to land use, public infrastructure and peat. I have gone through the specific recommendations made by the assembly in respect of electric vehicles. Community ownership with regard to renewable electricity is embedded in the new renewable electricity support scheme. I spoke about grid electricity from a microgeneration payment earlier in response to Deputy Stanley. It is up to us to design that into a grant scheme and see how we can make that valuable as the clean energy package comes down the line.

Deputy Ryan also asked about public sector leadership. We work with all public sector bodies, including Departments and the bodies under their aegis, to look at their commitments and achievements. There was a significant tonal shift at the start of last year when the public sector energy efficiency action plan moved from making people responsible for reporting to making sure they are accountable to perform. I think that was quite important. We experienced an upsurge in the level of interest in the technical and grant-giving supports we can provide. We have provided a number of million euro over the past couple of years. We have worked with the OPW and the Department of Education and Skills to look at the leadership roles they can play in communities, for example by upgrading their business beyond what would be considered to be a normal energy upgrade. I will give a separate example. Hearteningly, the HSE recently tested the use of electric vehicles in a rural environment, as opposed to an urban environment. Local taxi fleets were regularly being used in County Donegal to bring patients on dialysis in County Donegal in and out. We have shifted them towards electric vehicles to see whether that could or should work. If it works, the HSE may be in a position to roll such a service out across other areas. I think part of that is coming in as well. I think I have covered the questions that were directed at the SEAI.