Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests. The questions I had intended to ask have broadly been covered but there are some more I wish to ask. On the figures that have been given both at this meeting and in other forums regarding the cost of options and the comparative analysis Mr. Cunniffe mentioned, the examples of the cost being more than double that in Spain were quite troubling to hear. What are the drivers of those disparities, in terms of the delivery both of a reasonable option and of grid infrastructure?

It is clear from what our guests have said that investment requirements for the sector are very significant. One of the greater constraints they identified relates to the supply chain. Is there a manner in which the Irish market can develop its own supply chain? Would there be demand for it? Is the technology cheap enough to replicate such that it could be done at a competitive rate? Can we deliver indigenous development of the necessary components for the sector and then export it?

I am pleased to hear that floating is now being considered as part of the near-term targets, although whether it can be achieved, I do not know. Clearly, we have significant gaps in the make-up of our infrastructure in terms of the policies in and around this sector, particularly in respect of offshore. The maritime area regulatory authority, MARA, is in development, but there are other constraints. For instance, I understand that in other jurisdictions, there are point-to-point connections between renewable energy sources and energy users, such as large-scale industry. Would that be possible or must it go into the grid? I understand this relates to the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. Is that something we should review, not least in the context of discussions we have had about large-scale energy consumers such as data centres and large-scale industry, factories and so on?

Is there an opportunity for us to consider permitting the development of renewable energy sources to supply those facilities so that the grid is not affected and, therefore, does residents are not imperilled with blackouts and brownouts?

Points have been made about the absence of a hydrogen strategy. There is one coming but it cannot come soon enough. What is floating to hydrogen? I am not familiar with the concept. Ms Dempsey might expand on that remark.

Those questions cover the ground I wish to cover for now. A few of our guests could come back in on those questions.