Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This echoes previous reports from the CCAC which point towards progress in terms of legislation, regulation and planning but, repeatedly, there is an implementation deficit. Last year certainly saw an implementation deficit. We need to be energising 1.6 GW a year of new renewables, new grid scale and onshore renewables but, instead, it was just 0.6 GW last year.

What is the Government going to do to ensure those onshore renewables are delivered? There are obviously issues with the planning system. Time is of the absolute essence. The question I asked was about the renewable energy directive. Other countries have used that as a mechanism. The European Union has essentially given the green light on it to deliver renewables at scale. Is the Minister of State going to take that opportunity or what else is he going to do?

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