Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a little concerned that the Minister wishes to leave the question as to whether the fine in the case of a shortfall would be imposed every year. Surely the need to purchase energy credits should be a major incentive to the State to achieve its targets, especially as the potential cost to the Exchequer is €300 million per annum. With a little imagination - the use of clustering, for example - the domestic element could play a significant role in achieving the renewable energy target for heat. If we are to raise awareness of renewable energy sources and build a society that takes a proactive approach to renewable energy generation, we should ensure domestic users can avail of any incentives that are provided. While I accept the point the Minister makes on the issue of scale, he appears to be focused on easy targets rather than seeking a change in culture or to develop a sense of the importance of renewable energy sources. It seems to be a case of making an easy buck and trying to benefit businesses.

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