Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I firmly believe there are major problems with the idea and delivery of carbon budgets. If they were merely indicative targets, that might be one thing. However, these budgets are legally binding, inflexible and punitive. The concept behind them is to support our movement towards a so-called zero-carbon society in 2050. That is a fairy tale which will punish people in the process.

The Minister will be aware that Professor Michael Kelly of University of Cambridge recently delivered an eye-opening lecture to the climate science forum on the cost of Ireland's transition to a zero-carbon society. It would do the Government good to listen to that lecture carefully, instead of following blindly one agenda which is hysterical and whips up unnecessary fear and anxiety in people who want to play their part. Instead of that, the Government is dividing society and punishing the people who cannot afford it. How dare Government Members dictate to people how they are to heat their homes? People are expected to wait 24 months on a waiting list for a retrofitting scheme. Is the Minister suggesting the people freeze in their homes until their grant comes through? If it is out of their reach and they cannot afford it, what happens then? It is outrageous.

Professor Kelly says the cost of expanding the electricity sector in terms of transmission alone was estimated to be between €15 billion and €20 billion, an incredible amount. The final bill, according to the professor, will be in the region of €123 billion for the electrification element of decarbonisation and an astonishing €255 billion for the retrofitting of buildings. The professor's view is that we do not need both zero-carbon electricity and zero-emission homes. He says net zero is an unobtainable pipe dream, and I agree, without a major national commitment, a command economy and lower standards of living. He also says we ought to repeal net-zero legislation and replace it with more realistic and pragmatic targets. I support this call because Government Members are punishing people and do not want to listen to any other view. They are arrogant, elitist and dismissive of every other view.

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