Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too also warmly welcome any measures that will result in a decrease in the cost of installing solar panels. I do not see any good reason in the world all the roofs we have on all the buildings in the country, whether on private dwelling houses or farm buildings, should not have solar panels on them. This would be a sensible aim for the Government and all of us to be promoting. It would certainly be a help in the long term in reducing people's energy costs and a sensible and affordable solution, given proper supports and grant aid being provided to people to install these panels.

I wish to highlight, however, and this aspect was touched on briefly, that we must be careful when an announcement is made. I listened carefully when the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications made his announcement in this regard, but then I answered the phone when it lit up like a Christmas tree with the very important people who actually install the solar panels ringing me. If only we knew the chaos that announcement created for a couple of days. This is where common sense and being practical comes into it. I refer to the announcement the Minister made that the cost in this regard was going to reduce by €1,000.

Did he not realise there would have been homeowners who had booked contractors? For instance, contractors would have been due to work on houses next Tuesday. This would have been scheduled into their books and all of a sudden their customers were ringing them up and saying, "Oh my God, the Minister is after making an announcement that there is €1,000 reduction so do not come to me on Tuesday, wait until I get clarity on this." Where was the clarity coming from the Government? There was nothing. There was a loud vacuum coming from you all, to be honest. I am not being critical, I am being factual. All I am trying to do is advise that, in the honor of God, when the Government is making an important announcement like this in the future it would think of the people and the contractors on the ground, who are relied on. The Government must know there are people who do solar panels for just domestic premises and they do not do any for businesses. It affected people's work programmes literally in the hour following the announcement. The next morning, when the men were getting up in their vans and setting off in their vans going to, for example, a Mrs. Murphy's house up or down the road, Mrs. Murphy was on the phone saying, "Whatever you do, do not come to me tomorrow because I do not want you." I would not blame Mrs. Murphy for not wanting them because she would be hoping to get her €1,000 of a reduction.

I am glad that subsequently, when it was highlighted to the Minister, the Government had a Cabinet meeting this morning, and the Minister raised the issue. He came out from the Cabinet meeting and he did give clarity. That was most welcome. I would ask the Minister, Deputy McGrath, to give even more clarity because there are people who are still nervous about what was announced, the manner in which it was announced, and the timeframe. In other words, if Mrs. Murphy has booked the contractor for next Tuesday, will she get the reduction? What will be the actual workings of the announcement? This is important because we want to keep people working on it and we want contractors who have their order books to not have voids in their days' work. If they are relying solely on the domestic work they cannot say they will go away and go to such a business while Mrs. Murphy is making up her mind as to whether to go ahead or not. All I am asking is for the Government to be very clear about this announcement and other future announcements. I would really appreciate it if somebody could explain this to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. It is not rocket science. When one is a Government Minister, one is playing senior hurling; one is not making an announcement to the lads in the corner. This is serious business. One cannot make an announcement without thinking of the implications of what one is saying.

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