Mr. Conor Minogue:

Deputy Byrne is absolutely right. The industry has a critical role in making the case for the infrastructure delivery that is needed as part of transition but also for the delivery of a more competitive economy. We see them as twinned or extremely linked. I mentioned that we have the reliance on imported fossil fuels and gas in our electricity system and that we have a high electricity cost environment. We also see the potential of renewables, particularly offshore, which is moving in the direction that it makes absolute sense to do it. We need to be there advocating for that, and we are. In 2019, we issued our first low-carbon roadmap, which set out why this is good for business and for the economy.

The Deputy is absolutely correct. Specifically on the grid infrastructure delivery, IBEC came out very strongly in support of price review 6, PR6, and the scale of ambition envisaged for our grid in terms of delivering new capacity and new demand, unlocking inefficiencies and transforming the system to meet targets. It is very much industry leading support for that infrastructure delivery.

What is very clear in this period of global uncertainty is that the Draghi report and the clean industrial deal which followed from that report at a European level show that decarbonisation and competitiveness are absolutely linked. There is a lot of noise and we cannot ignore it. It just means looking at how we ensure that a strong enough enabling environment for that dual path towards competitiveness and decarbonisation is pursued.

Finally, I am strongly supportive of private wire. We think there is huge opportunity through private wire for the adoption of solar PV, onshore wind and the decarbonisation of industry. In fact, next Tuesday, I will be in the Department to look at next steps in delivering that private wire piece.