Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill and confirm my support for it. I thank Deputy Stanley for bringing it forward. I note the Government is not opposing the Bill, which is not the same as supporting it. I certainly hope this is not a device to bury it because this is good legislation that makes a small but significant step in the right direction.

The background to the Bill is the question of climate change and climate action and the Citizens' Assembly report on climate change which recommends that the Government take a central role in this area. One of the reasons for highlighting this is the current situation regarding carbon emissions targets. While our target is to achieve a reduction of 3% per year, emissions are actually increasing by 5% per year.

With regard to the Bill, renewable energy from microgeneration is a significant player in Germany where 50% of renewable energy generated is from microgeneration. As I said, the Citizens' Assembly made a recommendation on this matter in its report. A total of 99% of its members recommended that the State enable, through legislation, the selling back into the grid of electricity from microgeneration by private citizens, for example, energy from solar panels or wind turbines on people's homes or land, at a price that is at least equivalent to the wholesale price. I welcome this important Bill which takes a small but significant step in the right direction.

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