Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Deputy Bruton's third question was about what we learned from the auction. The main reasons were a failure for the supply company to deliver the equipment and the planning system being tight. The main lesson that we will have to learn, which the Attorney General is applying, is a revision of the 2000 Act. It is not fit for purpose. It does not service the people. It is too complicated and some of its provisions are too contradictory. That is the first and most urgent lesson that we learned.

I agree with the Deputy regarding the sound and vision fund. The definition of how that applies to climate and the reduction of our dependence on fossil fuels is central to our current climate difficulties. It will be up to the BAI to judge and decide where the funding will apply. The Deputy made comments about resilience to make us less dependent on fossil fuel imports, which is in the category of projects that we should support.