Mr. Justin Moran:

One of the reasons we are delighted for the opportunity to meet with the committee today is that when we talk about renewable energy it is often seen as the remit of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. It is seen as something that that Department does. If there is a wind farm, an offshore wind farm or anything to do with climate or decarbonisation, that is considered a matter for Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Absolutely, they are the people we deal with most on a day-to-day basis and the people we engage with. However, jobs, trade and employment are matters for this committee and this Department.

I want to stress that we welcome the offshore wind delivery task force as an initiative because it will get us to the ambitious targets that Deputy Bruton mentioned. There is a group of people that is working through its agenda and to-do list. They are trying to sort out the planning system and they are trying to sort out the grid infrastructure. If the supply chain is the eighth or ninth item on its list before any other business, it is often the item it spends the least amount of time focused on. What we want to see from the Department or the committee is that somebody will take responsibility for the jobs opportunity that offshore wind energy will bring.