Mr. John Finnegan:

The Deputy made very good points in respect of the fact that there is a need to co-ordinate and to work together. It is the big risk on any large-scale ambition. There are clear needs, that have been highlighted by the islands, to co-ordinate data, water and electricity. Organisationally, they are all the responsibility of one Department and one regulator ultimately. The structure is there. The Deputy also made the point very well about why the grid needs to be upgraded. We are about to buy ourselves as very large toaster, as it were. I like that image. Those toasters are being bought everywhere.

There is a need to upgrade everywhere.

To reassure the Deputy, it is something that our colleagues in EirGrid and ESB Networks are putting an awful lot of effort into. Just last year, EirGrid completed what it refers to as Shaping Our Electricity Future, which is its plan to meet future needs in a world with 70% renewables. The Minister sent them right back out in the climate action plan to redo it to meet the 80% target. It is its expertise and resources it is putting in that will ensure that the grid is upgraded for the island and for everywhere, because the same issues are happening, but probably more starkly and earlier in the islands. The same issues are happening everywhere and there is a need for much thought and planning now and much physical work and upgrading in the future.