Mr. Tim Cullinan:

If farmers were to develop proper biomethane production in this country, we would need the Government to be able to underwrite the price. There is no point in a farmer investing if that is not the case. To get these projects bankable, we will need to have a floor for the price. In that regard, I would envisage a commitment from the Government for 15 to 20 years to provide protection against fluctuations in the price of gas. There was an enormous rise in gas prices during the war in Ukraine but that price has come back down again. If farmers are to invest, they need certainty.

There is also rooftop solar, in which farmers are absolutely willing to participate. Under TAMS III, which has been announced, there is a €90,000 ceiling on grant aid for farmers. The problem, however, is the lack of proper infrastructure, such as a network of cables to carry that power into the national grid. That is a significant mistake. It is very frustrating that there are many livestock farmers who could generate new income from rooftop solar but they cannot currently get that power back into the grid. Those are some of the areas in which we need the Government to come forward with a clear plan and roadway for us-----