Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will go back to the issue of building momentum. Companies are moving towards being what might be called platinum companies and making great claims about their net-zero status, their trends towards such status or the progress they will make by given dates. That is great to see. Does the SEAI have a role in certifying such claims? On the corollary of that, would the authority consider establishing bronze, silver, gold and platinum categories, creating the concept that there are beacon companies that are forging ahead and that, if a company is only in the bronze category, it should really get the finger out? This might lead to colleagues in the sector regarding a company as not being up to speed, which might impact on tendering for business. Is that a way in which we could build momentum? Is it beyond the capacity of an organisation like the SEAI to consider? Having heard from Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise offices when they came before the committee, it seems everyone is sitting there with their offering and saying they do everything they can with everyone who comes to them but that, unfortunately, many companies do not. That is the story. There is a wall here that we have to break through. Perhaps that sort of system would be progressive.

The witnesses may not be in a position to comment but it also strikes me that one organisation being funded by the Department of Education, another by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and another by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment means that stuff may fall between stools or not be a priority for a Department. For example, Skillnet might be vulnerable to a change in priority towards higher education or some other area. Since all the organisations interface with enterprise, would there be merit in creating a carbon neutrality and circular economy compact within the State agencies and, in time, trying to develop it with the sectors? Perhaps there already is such a compact. Something like that needs to be thought about more seriously. There is a danger that we could sleepwalk into a situation with everyone saying there are great things out there but that, unfortunately, people are too busy, do not have the time and so on. As has been said, you can save 30% for nothing so it is a bit of a no-brainer for people to engage. This committee wants to move the agenda on a little bit rather than just hearing what the barriers are. As the best exam questions always end, discuss.