Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, there was a discussion on the Paris Agreement. I think everyone agreed that we do not want to see the US pulling out of the agreement. Ireland is being particularly ambitious with its targets. I understand that the energy Ministers met this week. Ireland has set very ambitious targets for 2030. One of the biggest challenges we face as we try to reach those targets and to improve the current situation in Ireland is to ensure we engage properly with communities. Deputy Tóibín and I have seen that in our constituencies. Wind, solar and other projects are less likely to go ahead when plans are not made properly, communities are not engaged with properly and proper plans are not put in place. This, in turn, makes it more difficult for us to reach our targets. There is a way we can work with communities that helps us to reach our targets. However, there is a lot of work to be done in that regard. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, is openly engaging in the various areas. He recently published a document on wind. He is asking people to come back with their own recommendations on that. I think we are being ambitious. We have to set ambitious targets. The Taoiseach has said we need to be ambitious in this respect.

We need to communicate with communities and educate people on what needs to happen.

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