Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Perfect. As I was late I was unaware of that. I have a question for the SEAI. There is a research study investigating lifestyle carbon impact on new and renovated buildings to be published. Can I have an indication from the SEAI on when it envisages this report will be published? The carbon intensity of new-builds and what we see in many of the developments coming through is that we have perfectly acceptable buildings with perfectly acceptable materials being torn down and new buildings being put in place. For example Deputy Ó Broin has done work on this. Can I have an indication on when this is proposed to be published? The proposed changes to the energy performance of buildings and energy efficiency directives provide that all new buildings are to be zero emissions from 2030 and public buildings from 2027. In light of the IPCC report yesterday does the SEAI think it is too late at that stage to do that? How does it propose we can move something like that along more quickly?

Buildings contribute to about 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. With the European Commission targeting their stock will be zero emissions by 2050, do we think that is soon enough?

Can anything else be done to bring that forward in terms of the intensity of the construction sector and buildings?