Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I will continue in the same vein by wishing Mr. Mulvey well. He has certainly demonstrated the capacity to work with people in everything he has done and I am encouraged by the importance he has placed on the need for boots on the ground and understanding the potential in the various regions.

I am disappointed by the terms of reference, and while that is not Mr. Mulvey's issue, I would like him to comment on it and to see how those might broaden. While the need for an initial focus on the significant impact to the midlands is well recognised, there will also be significant impacts in other areas. I speak in particular of the west Clare area and the decision by the ESB to reduce activity at Moneypoint. As Mr. Mulvey knows, the proposal was that the burning of coal at Moneypoint would end by 2025 and communities, politicians and leaders generally were working towards that. There is more renewable energy on the grid now so the ESB does not need to generate the same amount of electricity at Moneypoint, and that has accelerated the reduction in staffing. Some 100 ESB employees will be affected, as will the many contractors, subcontractors and maintenance people who are often forgotten about, without at all minimising the impact on ESB workers. There are smaller, self-employed people who will be impacted in much greater numbers. The decision to reduce activity is having a significant negative impact in the greater west Clare area where there is not much potential for other employment. The county council and local businesses have set up a committee to engage with the Government. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, has indicated a willingness to talk about matters and to look at making further funds available to the whole just transition process.

Does Mr. Mulvey see the role of a just transition commissioner as being only about the midlands? Has he had any discussion with the Government about broadening the role? The just transition commissioner will have a bigger role than the one envisaged and a bigger secretariat and more staff will be required. We are talking about ending the extraction of turf and burning of peat for fuel generation today which touches on the coal industry in west Clare, but there are many other elements of our economy that will have to change significantly over the coming years if we are to meet our targets, including the distribution of fuel and moving away from using home heating oil and gas. That will impact on many places and sectors. I hope that Mr. Mulvey can put his stamp on this role and establish an appropriate institution to assist in the change that is required.