Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree entirely, but I emphasise the necessity to ensure that wherever the investment comes from, be it from Government, private investors or wherever, it is accelerated to the extent necessary to achieve the targets in 2030, 2031 or 2032 and that we do not fall far short of the targets at that time. It would also serve to meet the criticisms in some quarters that we have not done our job to the extent to which we should have.

It would also alert politicians to the fact that, when they oppose such proposals of investment in wind farms, solar farms or whatever, in terms of alternatives, onshore wind turbines are the cheapest to provide and the cheapest electricity to produce. Offshore, it gets a bit more vague and expensive. Some of it may not materialise at all. It may not be feasible. That is on the basis of countless attempts to do so all over the world. The point at issue at this stage is how far we can tell the consumer that everything is in order to provide the alternatives in early days without bringing the economy to a halt. That is not a criticism of any government, Minister or Department.