Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I am trying to answer them. Given that the solar energy grant, for example, is being maintained at the exact same level, I do not accept the Deputy's contention that we are slashing the scheme. Many of the heating grant levels are staying the exact same. Reductions are being made in other areas because market technology has reached a certain maturity. I am sure the Deputy supports other schemes within the budgetary context which also need funding. As Minister, the prudent thing for me to do is to allocate my budget appropriately.

The Deputy referred to my comments about the scheme in October last year, when I said the green homes scheme was "a drop in the ocean". She may have noted that I also said, if I recall correctly, that the then Minister should do exactly what I am doing now, which is to move to a regulatory approach where all new buildings will be required to have these heating systems. I asked the then Minister to do this, but I did not get an answer. That is what we are actually starting to do now. The purpose of the grants is to try to undo the damage caused by 100 years of an oil and gas-fired industry supply chain by moving towards a renewables-fired supply chain. We need to oblige people to use it.

See this speech in context