Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

All the questions have been asked. I was going to make the point just made, particularly about the direct lines and where it was good practice to place them, but we do not have to look very far, just up the road, to see that it is possible.

I will ask a question about planning permission for ground-mounted panels and the delays in the network connections. There has been a bit of discussion about the networks. What do the witnesses believe has to happen? They say that with the direct lines it is the simple deletion of section 37(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act. Is it as simple to deal with the network connections? What has to happen in order for those blockages to be freed up?

We have heard a lot from wind energy representatives at climate committee meetings about planning delays and the delays in getting a decision. They are very keen to see the resourcing of the planning process, the environmental NGOs, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and so on in order that decisions are received much faster. Is that an issue for today's witnesses as well?

My last question follows on from on-roof solar and the interim regulations we were promised, which would exclude the areas around the airport. Going back at the direct line issues, are there countries where glare and glint at airports are a problem? Is there a need for the interim regulations at all, or should we just press ahead and free up the planning process for people to put solar panels on their roofs?