David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister agree that this is counterproductive and does not encourage farmers to put solar PV in place on their farms? Would it not be much better if they could get some payment for the electricity they free into the grid? Under the EU renewable energy directive II, consumers have the right to receive remuneration. Will the Minister let me know where exactly the rules say this cannot be done? Will he make some effort to get them changed, especially now when we need as many people as possible to generate electricity in Ireland? Does he agree that there are farmers all over the country who would be more than willing to erect solar PV panels? Is it not only fair that they would be paid for any surplus they feed into the grid? This would encourage further development in the area. We could be facing into power cuts in the autumn, given what is happening globally.

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