Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir:

Those are very good questions; there was a lot in that. In terms of coherence and political leadership, the Senator is right that these are the two things that are necessary but missing. We have had some successful measures but they have been bitty, so having a coherent targeted approach is essential. Political leadership has been lacking so we have not actually delivered on some of the ambitions we set ourselves.

In terms of what is the most important, it is probably the least discussed. The one that is discussed most in terms of meeting our targets has been the biofuel obligation but when one goes into a petrol station, there is no signage up and no mention of it, and it does not get the same discussion. Transport is seen as the most difficult sector to decarbonise, after agriculture, and there is good reason for that. However, the biofuel obligation scheme has been probably the most successful measure in terms of delivering on our emissions reductions targets.

I was asked about the technology and advances. I will bring Dr. Rogan in momentarily because we have just finished a project on the opportunities associated with the energy transition. It is about the opportunities associated with the technologies and it ties into the question on timing and whether we should wait. We do not have the luxury of time in which to wait because of the urgency-----