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

Okay. I will take the opportunity in the few minutes that remain to ask a few questions. I apologise for perhaps straying from the Standing Orders and away from the Supplementary Estimate. The energy crisis we have, and the cost of living challenge as a result of it, are inextricably linked with transport costs. The Minister has two roles here as the Minister for energy and climate, and for transport. It seems to me that in trying to address the cost-of-living challenge, we should look to the transport cost challenge people have. If we are ambitious and radical to pursue aggressively modal shift in our cities in particular, and in rural areas if we can really ramp up the level of our bus services, these would seem a very realistic and effective way of addressing the cost-of-living challenges people have. I expect that all across Europe these kinds of measures will be introduced and it would make sense we would do so in Ireland also.

My second question relates more to the Supplementary Estimate. Maybe it is a question for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe. Will the Minister tell the committee anything about the windfall that has accrued to the State on the increase in energy prices? Essentially, the €200 rebate is the State paying back to people the extra tax it has received. I accept this may be more of a question for the Minister of Finance, but the Minister, Deputy Ryan, might wish to comment.

My third question is around Europe's role in the more medium to long term. The joint committee had some very interesting sessions this morning where we talked about the much bigger potential in Ireland to provide clean energy for our own needs and to contribute to Europe's needs. There was a very interesting article in today's edition of The Irish Timesby Dr. Hannah Daly, Dr. Diarmuid Torney, Dr. Paul Deane, and Dr. Olexandr Balyk that really spoke to that. It is a medium to long-term prospect, but with the energy and security crises on the other side of the Continent, we should be talking at the European level about accelerating as much as we can the opportunity Ireland has. Perhaps the Minister will speak to those points.