Ms Marie Bourke:

The emissions trading scheme is the key scheme for getting the large energy users into energy efficiency. We are now moving into phase 4 post-2021 and each iteration of the scheme is more stringent, with less auctioning of allowances. Surplus allowances will be withdrawn through a market stability reserve. That will increase the price of allowances within the ETS and lead to the more efficient operation of the scheme. That scheme has just been negotiated. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment will be going out to consultation shortly on some of the options within that scheme and looking for applications on it. Each phase of the scheme is leading to an increased price of carbon, which will incentivise emissions reduction. That is our main focus for companies in the beverages, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and ICT areas, the dairy co-operatives and food companies.

In parallel, there is the large energy user scheme run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI. Two hundred of the large energy users are engaged in that scheme. They account for 50% of total industrial use and 20% of primary energy use.

There is a series of other schemes for the smaller users to try to improve energy efficiency with mentoring programmes, access to technology experts and management training in the area of energy reduction. There are a number of agency client companies and businesses and the key objectives of those is to reduce their energy consumption.

As Dr. Quinn referred to earlier, we have worked with companies on corporate social responsibility and shown how businesses can improve their business activity by showing they are energy efficient and sustainable. Increasingly, we are seeing consumers and users demanding that of corporations.