Mr. Michael Spellman:

We see an advantage for co-operatives getting involved in energy generation. One of the positive things that came out of the address in Poland this week was a recognition of the co-operatives getting involved in this. We know there is ring-fencing of 10% with regard to access to the auction for the electricity input that will be generated from the solar development in particular. We believe there is scope for co-operatives to be set up where the community would benefit from it. There is huge potential for that.

The Acting Chairman asked if we know something else that happened. There are small towns and villages in Germany that have maximised the co-operative model and have delivered very high levels of generation capacity. In Freiburg, which is near the Black Forest area of Germany, they are 130% self-sufficient in energy generation meaning they export 30% over and above what they require. It is something that could operate in Ireland just as well as it operates there. The dairy industry in Holland was able to support farmers there in microgeneration of roof-based solar power. Without a doubt there are opportunities.