Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt this nation faces a huge challenge following the agreement in Paris to pursue efforts to limit the increase in temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It is about more than the semi-State companies using renewable energy. In addition, I thought that there would be a co-ordinating and leadership role and that they would share their expertise in exploring different forms of renewable energy. Will the White Paper address the issue of community energy co-operatives? I know that the Minister is talking about the energy citizens concept, but it can be nebulous. The community energy co-operative is very specific, working in other countries and means that the citizen can buy-in and there is immediate benefit from renewable energy developments. Will the Minister consider the semi-State companies having such a co-ordinating or leadership role and the potential of community energy co-operatives in reaching the targets to which we agreed in Paris?

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