Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It was quite noisy. My understanding, and this has been reported in the media, is the CEPA report offers an alternative view to the previous analysis done on energy security. It really is important because I understand the CEPA report says that by the time we get any emergency or transition measure in place, it will be very costly, but also there will not be a need for it at that stage. We could spend ten years and I believe €300 million putting in place infrastructure that will not be needed by then from a security perspective but which will lock us into a fossil fuel future none of us wants and which, from a statutory perspective, we must avoid at all costs.

It is interesting when the Minister talks about this "emergency" infrastructure. This is not the best language to use because it paints a very different picture of this reserve than what would happen in reality.

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