Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have one comment and one question. I support what Mr. Gannon and Mr. Kenny have said. It is the same issue around electric vehicles and getting somebody to make that transition to move into a space where he or she sees himself or herself now as part of the protection of the environment and one is effectively appointing an ambassador. As Ms Ruddock and others have said, it will not change the pace of the overall requirement to generate electricity, which has to come from the large-scale developments, but if one can get somebody involved within his or her home or the curtilage of his or her site, that person becomes an ambassador for climate change in so many other ways because one gets that person thinking. There is much research to show that when people make the transition to an electric vehicle, they change so many other aspects of their lives, whether it is even just the disposal of their waste, which is a separate energy piece.

This is some very good research that shows that people's entire habits and behaviour are being changed, which is really what we want. It also assists in the wider community because while it might not be suitable for me, if it is suitable for my neighbour, it is discussed. We know that one of the greatest ways of effecting any public change is getting people talking about it and this does so.

I received some queries recently about a belief that there is an issue in some legislative form that is preventing access to the grid from wind and potentially solar at the same site. Are the witnesses aware of any impediments that might prevent a solar or wind farm accessing the grid at the same point? Is there some issue around co-location? Have the witnesses heard anything about that? Is there anything they are aware of that would prevent that?