Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. If I may, I will ask some questions. First, on the cost in terms of what we are paying to Denmark and Estonia, it is €50 million. At the start of the year the estimate was €110 million. Why is the figure less than the estimate? Is it Covid-19 related? Is it accelerated progress in the roll-out of renewable energy across the three sectors? The Minister might address that.

Second, the Minister mentioned the renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, auctions and the offshore RESS also. Is he looking at annual RESS auctions onshore? He might elaborate on those and how he sees them rolling out in the decade.

Third, on transport, we achieved a 10.7% reduction. That is, by and large, made up of biodiesel and bioethanol coming into the fuel mix. There is limited capacity to go further in that area and we will have more ambitious transport renewable energy targets as we go forward. Given that transport accounts for 40% of energy related emissions or 58% of non-ETS energy related emissions, this will be a huge challenge. Would the Minister outline his thoughts on and plans for the transport area in particular so that we might reduce emissions but certainly increase the proportion of renewables in that sector?