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

I appreciate Mr. Gannon's answer. We have a few minutes available now because I expected Senator Dooley to come back in and I will ask a few more questions in that time. In her opening statement, Ms MacEvilly stated that the commission has allowed capital expenditure for EirGrid and ESB Networks to increase by €1.3 billion to a total of over €4 billion over the coming five-year period. Perhaps she will speak more about that. I do not know how much those companies asked for and perhaps they got everything they asked for, but perhaps they did not. I invite Ms MacEvilly to speak more about that.

The programme for Government commitment on renewable electricity is a step up from the 2019 climate action commitment. The 2019 plan referred to a target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 whereas the programme for Government refers to "at least 70%". What kind of flexibility exists in the regulator's planning if there is a possibility that we might push for 75%, 80% or 85%, which is possible because this is moving playing field?

My final question relates to microgeneration. Perhaps Ms MacEvilly has already answered this question because the consultation has happened but we do not have a decision. She might tell us her thoughts about the spillover price that small generators should receive. What does she think is the appropriate price so that we will stimulate significant microgeneration across the grid?