Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My first question is for Ms Connolly and follows up on that. In her presentation she spoke about the fugitive leak of methane in the US and the need for us to watch the shale aspect of any LNG import and use. While we are very good at ticking boxes on commitments and even achievements, without putting source and impact into context, we will have a job trying to communicate this to others. How ready does she think we are to address the universality of our responsibility to source and not just emissions?

I also have a question for the CRU. Dr. McGowan mentioned smart meters, opt-in, opt-out, people who have smart meters using electricity off-peak when it is cheaper and so forth. People on low incomes live in the same timelines as everybody else, but people who are suffering from energy poverty are an ever-increasing demographic. I am interested to hear him talk about what he mentioned earlier.

In addition, in her opening statement Ms MacEvilly said: "We note the focus on the simplification and shortening of national permitting processes for energy projects articulated in the recent REPowerEU document statement published by the European Commission." There are serious delays in our planning process. She referred to engaging with communities. Does she agree that all the evidence shows that early and proper consultation with communities, alongside the selling to those communities of the community benefit, would help reduce the number of objections? Second, would she agree that when addressing planning delays, what is needed is a properly resourced An Bord Pleanála, with statutory deadlines, proper community consultation and dedicated planning resources? She spoke about resources earlier and An Bord Pleanála needs them too.

Mr. McEvilly spoke about solar panels. The point he made about solar panels is critical and must be addressed urgently. However, it must be done correctly as well. Planning for solar energy has to be right and timely.

I have loads of questions.