Mr. Jim Gannon:

We mentioned last October that there were two upcoming auctions and that we needed to make sure they secured and procured the capacity necessary. Mr. Melvin has outlined that more than 2,200 MW was secured in those. In advance of those auctions, we increased the economic signal by examining inflation to enhance the price cap. We made that change in the course of a number of short months to address certain issues. We also offered directions and letters to Gas Networks Ireland and EirGrid to ensure the grid connections, for both gas and electricity, would be delivered on time and that the ancillary utilities would be assured to those generators. That way, we would have confidence and they would have confidence bidding into the auctions that they would receive their connections on time. That was another change.

Following that, we have a consultation under way with regard to the demand-side units to look at the economic signal they are receiving. We have already mentioned that we began that review of the CRM in December of last year. I will not go into that in much more detail. We amended those shorter term auctions, the T3 and T4, to look at that longer term review and enhancement of signals, notwithstanding that we had tactically looked at changing some of those signals in those shorter term auctions. We are thinking and acting in the short term to secure the 2,200 MW but also thinking more long term about our 2030 delivery.

For the 2,200 MW there will be challenges in delivery and timely delivery. It is worth repeating that for both network infrastructure and for generators, it is a very difficult place to bring projects through a planning and licensing system. That is not just here; it is across Europe. It has been recognised in Europe through the REPowerEU document, which states that renewable energy generation infrastructure in particular, but also the networks supporting it, should be considered in the overriding public interest. It is essential for us all to make sure we all support the delivery of the type of infrastructure we are going to need to deliver our low-carbon transition. That is not just wind farms and solar farms and their supporting infrastructure. It is also the gas-fired infrastructure that will make sure we keep the lights on when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. The delivery of infrastructure cannot be left behind as we fix the procurement aspects of the market. What I am trying to get across is that in the short term we have made changes to address that, and those have had some impact, but we are still examining what else is needed for the medium and long term to make sure the CRM performs to its optimum.