Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources

Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage

9:00 am

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will finish with this point or we will be here all day talking about this. I totally disagree with the Minister's approach. I am not saying this is an alternative to everything else in the Bill. I would not get away with saying that. However, we must insert a clause in the Bill that legally allows communities and co-operatives access to the national grid without having the financial burden of competing with the big players. If the Minister says that cannot be done he is looking after the interests of the big players, not the interests of local communities. The two aspects should not be put in opposition to each other, but the Minister appears to be doing that. I am not. I am saying they should be allowed legal access to the national grid. I will table the amendment next week and we can have the argument again.