Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms King for her presentation. Mr. Noone stated there was no point talking to the just transition commissioner. Is that the position of ICTU? I would have thought the just transition commissioner is a very important person and everybody should be talking to him.

Could the witnesses give some examples to show why the Spanish model is working so well? Unfortunately, our withdrawal from using peat for energy generation has been accelerated by An Bord Pleanála's decision not to grant planning permission to the ESB to generate electricity post-2020 using biomass or peat. This acceleration has been as much of a shock to Bord na Móna staff as it has been to anybody else. Clearly, when a company's main client no longer wants its product, it is a major issue. Very important and challenging decisions must be made. People in the midlands, including County Offaly, are all very concerned about this. I know most of the people working in both companies in my area very well.

Will Ms King elaborate on ICTU's view regarding the ESB workers because the presentation related mainly to workers in Bord na Móna. I ask her to elaborate on her response to Deputy Dooley.

Has ICTU done any work on the shift to greener energy and the types of skills that would be required? This is the direction in which we must go and, as Ms King rightly said, there has been much discussion on this in recent years. During the previous Government, I was a member of a committee that considered this issue. We recommended the establishment of the Climate Change Advisory Council at that point and we also established the Citizens' Assembly in June 2016. Did ICTU have an opportunity to make a submission to the Citizens' Assembly in June 2016? We all need to accept the need to take climate action to make a just transition. All of us in leadership roles, whether in the community, in workplaces or trade unions need to accept this is happening and then move to take action. Accepting that this is the case is very important. Is ICTU facing challenges in getting acceptance from its member unions that climate action is needed and that climate change is taking place?

I seek clarification on a reference in ICTU's presentation in which it describes some of the money for the retrofit programme announced in the budget as possibly being "old money". What is meant by that? The Minister, Deputy Bruton, was clear there will be new money for this from the ring-fenced carbon tax. It would be great to get clarity on that.

Regarding ICTU's comment on the WRC, where does the joint industrial relations council fit in that context? How could that mechanism be used for the benefit of the workers?