Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt that the sooner we start making changes, the quicker the impact will be and the less adjustment we will have to make. However, doing something like getting our renewables from the current 30% on the power system up to, say, 60% requires a number of sequential measures to be put in place. We need to strengthen the grid and start to hold the auctions. We need to see the technologies such as offshore wind being developed to a point where they are economic.

We cannot just press the button and have them all fall into place. By necessity, some of these measures are sequenced. I indicated to the committee that we are looking across a number of policy areas, such as market failure and the lack of a carbon price, as well as regulation. We are looking at every conceivable area and policy initiative across the sector, from buildings, industry, agriculture, transport and houses to the public service itself. Some public service bodies are exemplary in the way they have improved energy efficiency, while others have done virtually nothing. That is not acceptable. We need to set new standards at every level and the Deputy is correct that we need to hold people to account on strict timelines. We will not do everything in one year. This will be a rolling programme.

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