Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to address the witnesses.

I will start with grid capacity, the last issue raised by the Minister. One of the key issues for the smaller generation sector is that it has a vital say in this. At the moment, there is no grid capacity in many places, as I discovered during the week in west Cork.

An announcement was made today that the timelines for the gas field off County Mayo would be extended, which is a significant development. I ask the Minister to give his view of other pending licences in the system. In particular, I mention Barryroe, which is in my part of the world and for which a licence application has been with the Minister for the past few months. Does the Minister believe that project will play a vital role in ensuring we have our own natural gas supply?

I understand we have four gas connections, although I am open to correction about the number. I think we have two with Scotland, one in Mayo and one in Cork. We had the amazing once-in-a-lifetime sight for three or four days earlier in the year of cranes taking down the Kinsale gas platform. The gas mains infrastructure is still in place and it is a significant piece of infrastructure for the State. What is the solution for that piece of infrastructure? Will it be used for carbon capture or is there a proposal for a floating LNG terminal in the harbour? What role will that strategic piece of infrastructure play when it comes to natural gas?

The Minister mentioned solutions, including home-grown solutions. Anaerobic digestion has been mentioned in recent months and years as an important part of any solution. We have 12 anaerobic digesters working in the State at the moment and there are 58 in Northern Ireland. Three weeks ago, I visited the site of an anaerobic digester in Timoleague in west Cork, which is near Barryroe. It took six and half years to get it through compliance issues. Is there an issue with planning? Should we take the opportunity to ensure we have a planning process that can deliver such infrastructure quickly?

On potentially charging more for energy at times of excessive use, particularly between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., I seek an assurance that this will not have a major impact on the work of members of the agricultural community at that time of the evening, specifically the milking of cows and other practical tasks. I seek an assurance that farmers will not fall within the remit of that.