Dr. Fergal McNamara:

I have just returned from Brussels, where I was working for more than two years on the clean energy package. If it pleases the committee, I shall put some brief remarks on the record about it and state what it means in this context. It is Europe's response to the 2030 climate and energy targets we signed up to pursuant to the Paris Agreement. One of the really interesting aspects is the effort by the lawmakers to engage the customers in the energy transition. Customers are almost the same as citizens and it is in their name that the transition is being effected. They are the ones who will ultimately be paying. Therefore, there are many aspects to the clean energy package to try to kick-start and enable the customers. The very passages my colleague Mr. O'Shea read out are appropriate in terms of renewable self-consumers.

One will see references to citizen energy communities. These have been mentioned. The key question concerns how to allow the customers to participate in a transition so they can have the sense of involvement the Senator spoke about and also a sense of control and delight in reducing their own energy consumption. The key issues here is market access and the question of how consumers could achieve at least the market price for any excess they have from microgeneration on their premises. That is very important.

The renewable energy directive contains some requirements related to speeding up, streamlining and giving guarantees on the connection process. We have a particular issue with that in Ireland because we have the planning and permit process to go through in addition to the grid connection process. The clean energy package is very positive in this regard. The Bill could be framed in this wider context. Transposition into Irish law is expected by June 2021.