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

Senator Dooley has been waiting patiently. I will ask some questions first, however. I echo Senator Higgins's concern regarding the path to decarbonisation. I am quite concerned that we are talking about decarbonising gas and not decarbonising energy. It seems that we are stuck with a narrative that gas is a transition fuel. Things are changing, however, and perhaps we are not changing our thinking quickly enough. There is possibly an opportunity to see gas not so much as a transition fuel but as a means to decarbonise energy. I am referring to the potential of offshore generation and the west coast.

It probably took everybody by surprise when the ESB announced its project, in conjunction with Equinor, for Moneypoint, which is due to come on stream in 2028. I am concerned that the regulator is not carrying out the scenario analysis or modelling that would show how we can get to a quicker decarbonisation of our energy and that it might perhaps be too focused on the idea of gas as a transition fuel. The fear we all have is that we will build new infrastructure for gas that will ultimately lead us to burning fossil fuels for the decades to come. Perhaps our guests will comment on that. Is a level of modelling that would reflect greater ambition and, perhaps, greater possibilities, given the significant moves that are happening internationally and within Ireland, being done?

I have a few quick questions relating to the role of the CRU. The witnesses might confirm that the CRU is, under the relevant legislation, responsible for the security of electricity supply. They might also confirm what is driving electricity price increases. Is it gas or is it renewables? They might speak to the legislation again and outline who the CRU is accountable to under the legislation. This committee has an oversight role but is it the case that it can give the CRU some direction? The witnesses might also speak to that matter.