David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I am taking five minutes and Deputy Stanley is taking ten. I begin with a statement of the obvious in observing that we are not off to a good start when it comes to just transition. I do not disagree with anything the witnesses have said. Certainly, there is a big difference between what is being talked about and what is happening in reality. My first question concerns the closure of the peat-fired stations and the premature decision that was brought forward in that regard.

Ms King referred in her opening statement to "the prospect of a planned, orderly wind-down". That was one of a number of things promised to the workers. They were promised that there would be an orderly wind-down, there would be proper consultation, alternatives would be put in place and what is happening now with the just transition funding and what flows from it would be put in place well in advance of decisions being made. Is that the case? What was promised in terms of the wind-down?