Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Meally for his opening statement and I thank Ms Coyle for her contribution. We have heard about a situation where the climate gets warmer so we need more comfortable homes and offices that are better for the environment. We have increased competition from a business perspective and improved security of energy supply. That is the Ireland in which I want to live. They have captured so well what we all aspire to, and what so much of the retrofitting grants and all of the different schemes that we are all working towards aspire to achieve.

I was interested in the comment: "Buildings contribute to 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, with the European Commission targeting that our building stock will be zero emissions by 2050." Can Mr. Meally say what is best practice within the EU at the moment? Is Ireland reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the energy performance of buildings and complying with energy efficiency directives?

An issue that was alluded to here - it is, unfortunately, something we talk about regularly at the committee - is the price of inflation and its impact on the price of housebuilding and on the end product from the perspective of consumers. Is there any estimate as to whether these regulations will increase the price of homes for consumers?

Mr. Meally clearly stated that the benefits of these measures far outweigh the costs and I completely agree. I am interested in hearing the SEAI's perspective on how we should convey to the wider public that the benefits outweigh the cost? I ask because we want to bring the public on this journey.

Interestingly, Mr. Meally said about tenders that we need "meaningful clauses within the procurements and the documents", especially in State contracts. I agree with what Deputy McAuliffe said about the better energy warmer homes scheme. Such a scheme goes down well with the communities that I represent, such as those in Clondalkin and Lucan, and in the context of one-off rural houses. These homes will were built a number of decades ago and their inhabitants really see the benefit of the scheme. They feel the benefit physically in terms of having warmer homes but they also see it in reduced electricity and-or home heating bills.

Mr. Meally spoke about a panel of procurement contractors. It is slightly concerning to think how dramatically things have changed from a trader's perspective in a few years. I would welcome his thoughts on how we can ensure that we have a really strong pipeline of construction workers to make those grants happen for the 4,000 people who are currently on the scheme.

Mr. Meally also referred to creating living spaces in towns by renovating spaces located over the shop. The committee has talked a great deal about tackling vacancy and dereliction. I wish to put on the record that there is a huge benefit for us to create these spaces, and also in the context of retrofitting.

I would like answers to my questions on energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and the EU and Ireland perspectives. What are the potential additional costs to the end buyer because of the energy efficiency directives? How does Mr. Meally feel we should sell this to the public?