Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand what the witnesses are saying. We have unprecedented levels of dispatch down and when one turns off the turbines, we do need more batteries. We have all said that. I thank ESB Networks for its response to Storm Éowyn. The PSO for customers will go through the roof if everything is overhead lines. Storm Éowyn did not take out transmission lines. It only knocked distribution lines. We all know that.

The witnesses did not really answer my question about why we are still importing UK energy rather than using Irish energy. I understand they gave the road analogy. I studied mechanical engineering for six years focusing on data centre energy utilisation. I understand how the energy system works. Deputy Ahern spoke about private wires legislation. The witnesses spoke about the public safety aspect. When brought in, private wires will still have to comply with Irish safety standards in line with the CRU. I was hoping that the CRU would appear at this meeting as it would have been very beneficial. If we have another meeting, that is something we should push for.

The benefit of public session is that the public is watching us. I know the witnesses publish a lot of the expenditure they have and things they have done. Is there anything they have built regarding underground cables or overhead transmission lines that has gone over budget a lot that they think the public should be aware of?