Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will do my very best. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I am learning that these questions have covered a wider area than that covered by the tabled questions, which concern when we will hold the next meeting of the Cabinet committee. It will be scheduled shortly.

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his kind wishes. I look forward to working with him. I thank him also for highlighting the importance electric vehicles. His view is one that I share. I believe it is also one that the Tánaiste shares. We all signed up to a programme for Government that was anti-carbon, not anti-car, and therefore have to consider how we can use new technologies to enable people who require cars to use them more sustainably. The financial barrier to ownership of an EV is an issue. It is probably not the only one but it is one that I know people are factoring in. Issues regarding the level of a grant will be a matter for the budgetary process, as the Deputy will have expected me to say, but he is getting his speak in early on the matter. I will certainly reflect the Deputy's views to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and also seek his views. The Government's scale of ambition for EVs remains the same and therefore we need to consider every lever we can pull to continue to drive on – pardon the pun – the progress we need to make on electric vehicles. There has been good progress but much more needs to be done.

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising his question. I will get him an answer directly on where we are and the timeline for the wind guidelines; however, offshore renewable energy remains a very major part of-----

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