Mr. Mark Foley:

There are a number of questions. Mr. McCormick is suggesting that I start with electric vehicles because I drive one and I know a great deal about the experience. That might sound as if I am joking but it is true. We do not have a role to play in this, to put it simply. As a consumer, however, I notice many private companies are starting to install charging points. If one goes to Aldi or Lidl, one can charge one's electric vehicle so I believe the momentum is starting to build. I am speaking as a consumer, not as the CEO of EirGrid.

On micro-generation, I know it sounds simple but, to be clear, there must be a policy framework, a technical way in which power can go from the home to the grid and a proper regulationary tariff. We have none of that at present. We have a very limited role to play in that regard. I am not ducking the question but that is the current reality.

The Deputy talked about living without fossil fuels. Fossil fuels will be here. They are not disappearing but they will exist at a very low level on the system in the future. Renewables will be the dominant source of generation. The technology and services that have been developed by EirGrid will allow fossil fuels to operate at very low levels - low levels never previously dreamed of - to provide system stability. As long as the market provides appropriate remuneration for them to be there and to provide that service, we have nothing to fear from a security of supply perspective. We are confident we have a very good handle on that. Working with the regulator and examining supply demand as we move forward, the committee has nothing to fear from renewables going up and fossils going down because we will manage the balance through our engineering capability.

The Deputy mentioned interconnection with France. Regarding the modelling around the interconnector between Ireland and France, the latter has challenges in Brittany. It also has challenges because it is going to wind down some of its nuclear power facilities. It needs renewables.

We are an attractive source of renewables for France through that interconnector. All of our modelling suggests power will go from Ireland to France more often than France to Ireland. It will come from France to Ireland at times but the dominant electron flow will be from Ireland to France. We have both developed a model that assumes that flow. It is vital for us because if we ratchet up our renewables but then find ourselves at times during the day when there is nowhere to deploy it, the economics of those projects will be challenged and they will not be built. Developers will not build these projects if they think that they will be turned off 20% of the time and make no money. If they know it can be shipped off to France, however, it will work for all of us.

The Deputy also asked a question about the cost of wind energy and what developers are paid.