Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

It is difficult to have faith in the Minister when he tells us one thing on the record in committee before completely revising his statement on the floor of the House. This also occurred in the case of the so-called one stop shop for broadband which has been totally remodelled. Those involved in the micro-generation industry are concerned that a new scheme will not be introduced before the summer. The livelihoods of people who have invested in micro-generation industries, whether wind turbines, micro-CHP or other technologies, are on the line. They made investments on the back of assurances provided by the Minister that he would establish a new support scheme, whether one modelled on the scheme implemented and working in Britain or the scheme implemented in Germany. I ask the Minister to provide certainty as to when the new and necessary measures will be introduced. We cannot keep an industry hanging on forever. Its financial position precludes it.

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