Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a very timely session on retrofitting, especially given the findings of the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC. The IPCC cannot give enough warnings that we have only a certain amount of time to turn this around in order that we do not leave behind a disastrous situation for future generations. There is a considerable onus on us to turn this around and reduce emissions.

The IPCC report indicated that approximately 18 countries had demonstrated a consistent reduction in emissions. One was the UK, which is successfully reducing emissions, mainly through renewable energy. Another was Norway, where a measure has been the roll-out of electric vehicles, EVs, and the EV network. Where Ireland can begin to achieve a consistent reduction in emissions is through a significant roll-out of renewable energy, especially offshore wind, and the retrofitting scheme to save energy and reduce the use of fossil fuels in home heating. With that in mind, there has been significant debate recently around carbon tax.

It is amazing, considering the findings of the IPCC report and the consistent warnings, that there is still a debate around abandoning one of our key measures to tackle climate change. That measure is carbon pricing and using the revenue from carbon tax to roll out key schemes, such as agri-environment and retrofitting schemes. How important is the revenue from carbon tax in rolling out this retrofitting scheme? How would abandoning the carbon tax or delaying an increase in the rate of carbon tax impact on the acceleration and roll-out of the retrofitting and warmer home schemes and helping people in fuel poverty to create warmer homes?

I will speak on a parochial level. I know Dr. Byrne cannot give details on the two companies that are through the door in terms of the one-stop shop. Cork is the biggest county and I am from west Cork. Dr. Byrne mentioned that some one-stop shops would be national and others would be regional. Is it envisaged that Cork would have its own one-stop shop? Cork South-West, which I represent, is an approximately three-hour drive from one side to the other. Is it envisaged there would be one in that area? Can Dr. Byrne give that type of detail?