Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I would like to ask a particular question about the wording of the question on community or public ownership of future renewable energy projects. According to the report:

A number of suggestions were received from Members ... expressing a view that all future renewable energy projects should be publicly State owned, in light of concerns about Ireland's energy security into the future and a desire to retain ownership ... The Chairperson explained that this could involve complex areas of European Union law including issues such as state aid rules [and therefore] it was deemed inappropriate that the Assembly should vote on this.

A slightly broader formulation, referring to "the greatest possible levels of community ownership", was recommended instead. Why did Ms Justice Laffoy feel that the wording of the question that was being suggested should be changed in light of EU rules? Is not the case that many of the recommendations in this report would involve changes in domestic law?