Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question builds from the previous question. To what extent has the modelling we have had on emergency scenarios been focusing on emergency supply issues rather than emergency modelling on demand and demand reduction? How do we ensure we do not create hostages to fortune in terms of demand? Data centres were mentioned, which encompass one area. There is the idea of the precautionary principle and being able to model demand reduction. What Professor McMullin pointed out was strong with regard to there not being space. The space we have in embodied energy needs to be going towards either resilience or transition rather than to expansion. Will he comment on the focus we need to have on demand when we look at energy security, and perhaps the Energy Charter Treaty with regard to areas of risk in terms of our capacity to respond as we should?

He mentioned LNG and specifically the need to exit and the dangers of putting in place new infrastructure that we will then have to exit. How does this intersect with the treaty? Carbon budgets are one issue and our Paris obligations are another. These are also part of it. Wider than the carbon budget is the collective obligation on temperature. Professor McMullin specifically mentioned methane. Will he comment on how methane can serve as an accelerant that shrinks everybody's space for the transition and in terms of temperature?