Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the presence of the ESB Networks representatives. It is very important for the agricultural community to have an understanding of what is happening in this space. It is really important for us. Looking at figures presented by the witnesses, in the next five years there will be significant changes with regard to the renewable energy aspect. If we are to reach the proposed target of 17,000 MW of onshore renewable generation there will be huge changes in the natural landscape around the country and ESB Networks plays a very important role in that. On average, ESB Networks has a very good reputation in rural Ireland and that has to be acknowledged at this meeting. ESB Networks' understanding through its work of rural communities, farmers and everyone else is something we value. It is great that its representatives had the opportunity to attend this meeting to give the committee and others an understanding of what ESB Networks does on the ground.