Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On energy supply, the Department might take the following question. In the discussion earlier, the SEAI's point of view was that there would not be a problem in relation to extra EVs, EV charging points or retrofitting and heat pumps.

However, we are planning to install 600,000 heat pumps, according to the briefing, and there will be 945,000 electric cars and the charging points for those. EirGrid is saying everything is okay, but there were a number of reports over the winter, and we had a very mild winter, of the grid being on orange alert. If we were on an orange alert when there was no fuel supply issue, what is the situation? If we add another 600,000 heat pumps and 1 million electric vehicles, are we sure we will have enough electricity on the grid? Is this not going to cause problems and potential blackouts? It is to be hoped it will not.