Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I look forward to hearing Deputy Charles Flanagan's response in this regard because a postponement along the lines suggested by Deputy Varadkar would have the effect of shutting the peat-fired power plants, as well as the associated harvesting arrangements. That is what would happen.

Similarly, the second reason for the PSO is that the best way to protect our people from price rises is to switch to renewable energy. We have the cheapest available onshore wind in particular, to which we now can turn as the greatest protection from higher future fuel prices arising from volatility in gas or other fossil fuel import prices. Moreover, it is bringing down the price of electricity today. Every time the wind blows, it switches off the expensive-----

See this speech in context