Mr. Ciar?n O'Connor:

That is a tough question. It is quite tricky to be accurate about it but I will try. I am aware of what other countries are doing. On a personal level I think we should set the targets and start doing it sooner. It is like many things. In Ireland we are very good at talking in generalities but when we come down to the hard graft or master planning our future we can be a little hit and miss. We are very good on our feet in a crisis but planning before the crisis could sometimes be better.

In that regard for any country to hit its targets for 2030, it has to move earlier, because there is always a time lag between industry catching up and all those ducks one has to line up in a row. I favour it. I am not sure whether the system can manage to do it significantly earlier but it could probably manage it two years earlier. It should be achievable by 2023 but other people might take a different view. I know other people who would have a diametrically-opposed view to that and say that the other systems are not ready.

However, we have to start doing it. I would have no problem if the Legislature was to say that the public area is to now give that priority. Then one starts finding out what the practicalities are and what the problems are in achieving them. One will not get that by talking in the abstract. It is not until one commits and sees what does not work out as well as one would have thought. Things I thought were self evident 20 years ago in my career were not quite as self evident when they were trialled. Until one trials one does not get it.

We are watching what other countries are doing. I am very aware of what the Danes are doing and they are quite ahead. The Dutch are quite ahead of us as well. However, many other countries, especially in southern Europe, are miles behind us. There is that dichotomy between north and south Europe. The Danes, Finns and Norwegians are better examples for us. They are closer to us in size. Their economy size is better and that is easier. I know they are on the mainland of Europe which helps but we have to start. I would favour starting sooner rather than later.