Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Ms Donnelly is very welcome. It is lovely to see her here. I thank her for taking so much time over our questions. I have a few specific questions. I will start off by asking what Ms Donnelly's thoughts are on the issue to the effect that we have to have a transition. Some of these measures we are talking about are in the context of wind energy but there are also some other transitions required in respect of other areas, such as horticulture. How important is it to give a clear message that we cannot just turn off the lights and that we have to have transitions?

I refer as well to communicating that the rhetoric about this process locking us in is not correct, and that it will, instead, enable us to achieve energy and food security for our island in future. My first point, therefore, concerns the importance of communications and the language we all use in this context and of not scaremongering.

Turning to results-based schemes in agriculture, we had a session on that topic previously. Ms Donnelly spoke earlier about the importance of farming paying. It clearly is not doing so now for many farmers. We must consider a move to a form of agriculture that not only protects the environment but that also gives more to farming families than they receive now. I refer to there being opportunities in this regard for farmers, and young farmers in particular. At another session, we had representatives from Macra na Feirme before the committee. They said that access to ecologists is something that would support them. Therefore, I think people, including farmers, are coming on board with this process. It is good to hear that. They must, however, be supported through this process of change. We are a leader when it comes to results-based schemes, albeit that only a small part of our land is involved.

Moving on to the cost of renewables, and specifically regarding the cost of the energy coming from renewables, is it true to say that, over time, it will be the cheapest possible form of energy we can provide? Investment is required at this stage to bring that about, but we will come out of that process without our previous over-reliance on fossil fuels and international markets. Equally, it is also cheaper to produce renewable energy.

Ms Donnelly spoke about my final point already, which concerns the importance of our ports infrastructure. I come from Galway, and the west coast is where the wind is. We must see investment in infrastructure to enable us to capitalise on our greatest asset for a greener future.