Mr. Jim Gannon:

I am happy to take the first question and I might hand over to my colleague, Ms MacEvilly, for the second, if that is all right.

We are at the beginning of a transition from a developer-led offshore regime to a centrally-led one. We see that trend in many of the other European countries, which are also trying to access the offshore opportunity. Separately, we also see a new policy statement from the Department on offshore grid investment and we have a transition articulated there on the way to 2030. On the opportunity for Ireland, it is inevitable there will be investment in offshore grid and offshore grid connections. For the first couple of phases of that we will have a market domestically that can absorb that generated electricity. As we move beyond that initial investment phase of, say, the 5 GW in the programme for Government to 2030, we will seek to export this commodity, be that through further interconnection or in the longer term, through molecules, perhaps in the form of green hydrogen.

As to how that is paid for, in the first instance, in a developer-led opportunity, typically the developer would finance and invest in that. It is possible that their dealing with that cost and risk would increase bids into a RESS, which would find its way into the PSO. However, again they will treating that risk, they will be designing to and constructing that risk and that offshore infrastructure. In the longer term it is an anticipated it will be an offshore transmission asset owner, in the form of EirGrid, which will centrally plan, design and develop that grid. Through central planning, designing and development, especially as we move beyond that initial scale of 5 GW, it is anticipated that will result in ultimate savings for the consumer. Again, that is a design model used in a number of different countries, certainly in the EU.