Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Most people in the country are very much on board with the principle of the energy transition with the promise of cleaner, greener and cheaper electricity. To be fair there has been a lot of progress from a cleaner and greener point of view but there has been no progress at all from a cheaper perspective. Much research suggests that Ireland has the most expensive electricity in the European Union. I would be grateful for the Minister's thoughts and his assessment on that. Is it correct to say that Ireland has the most expensive electricity of the EU 27 countries? That is the first question.

Second, I was concerned by the testimony of the EirGrid CEO, Mark Foley, before the Oireachtas committee yesterday. He said he cannot get companies to build the new power plants that we need from an energy security point of view. That is a big issue from a security perspective.

Third and perhaps most concerning of all, there is a perception out there - I would argue a reality - that big energy companies are profiteering on the backs of ordinary people. I think that is a very dangerous narrative because it erodes a sense of fairness in the country and it undermines the covenant that should exist between the State and her people. On those three bases alone, I welcome the number of rooftop solar panels around the country at the moment. It is unrecognisable from four years ago before this Dáil convened and is making a big difference because it is addressing those three concerns - the cost, the energy security and-----

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