Mr. Bill Sadlier:

Deputy Stanley spoke of a carbon cliff, but what it really comes down to is action and accountability. We have known this is coming for the past ten years. There has been no grid connection offered in Ireland other than from wind since 2008. There has been no route to market developments since 2015, when refit was extended. We have had a four year void in the area of renewable energy auctions. The result is that there will be penalties of between €200 million and €400 million per annum, which will be paid from the Exchequer and ultimately the population. Who is accountable?

On the energy mix, it must be diversified in order to create sustainable security of supply and competitiveness. What we need to do, and it is part of the engagement that Renewable Energy Consumers and Producers, RECAP, envisages having with the Department, is progress the renewable energy auctions because these are what trigger more renewable energy deployment in the immediate term. Without establishing a route to market for solar, offshore and wind energy, etc., people will not invest in grassroots community development and utility development projects to enable that energy transition. We need a clear plan from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and ultimately the Department for grid development over the next ten years to meet our 2030 targets.