Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Foley for his comprehensive presentation. I have a couple of questions. On the grid generally, one hears different stories about the difficult situation it is in at certain points. Some large electricity users are concerned that there is the potential for outages based on current demands. There is also a recognition that some gas generating compressors are working off grid in order to provide it with the appropriate level of electricity. If that is the case, in addition to what EirGrid has to do to bring on additional technologies and meet the demand from renewables, is the existing grid network, in particular on the east coast, at capacity? Could the witnesses tell us about its status?

In the constituency Deputy Crowe and I represent, an organisation received planning permission to erect a wind turbine about ten years ago. It was only erected in the past number of weeks and has subsequently been adjudged by the council to be in breach of its planning conditions. A directive has been issued by the county council for the wind turbine to be removed.