James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Nobody interrupted the Senator.

The Minister has made it very clear that this process is flexible and can deliver, and from that delivery we can learn and from that learning we can refine and modify as time goes by; nothing stays stationary, as we know.

Members referred to electric car technology and batteries. A lot of research is being done on graphene, which will allow batteries to have a much longer charge without the need for cobalt and allow less lithium to be used.

I support what Senator Joe O'Reilly said. The idea of community generation of electricity is great. The small wind turbines are far too expensive; the larger turbines are more efficient. The whole community would gain from taking ownership of that and it could be successful.

I particularly welcome the Minister's move on giving microgenerators access to the network so that they can sell their electricity. This will be hugely important, not so much because of the volume of electricity it might generate but in sending a strong message that we are serious about this.

We hear about all the problems that relate to climate change and the challenges that it poses, but the Minister has outlined significant opportunities in agriculture and farming, such as anaerobic digesters. Solar farms have been trialled in Germany, with panels on 3 m stilts, and they got 90% productivity from the land on top of what they get from the sun. I have mentioned several times encouraging farmers to have solar panels on their sheds and the need to review the limit that currently exists for solar panels on domestic dwellings. Why is it such a small number? What is wrong with having more? The limit relates to solar panels for water rather than for electricity.

There is very good news coming out of Fingal, which was asked to take the lead for the four authorities in Dublin on piloting charging points for cars on electricity poles. It is now seeking expressions of interest to roll that out across Dublin city, including Fingal. That could be a game changer and would make it far easier for people to make the jump to hybrid or fully electric cars.

The issue of single use plastic is particularly important and I welcome the Minister's commitment on that. There is also the issue of Styrofoam, which is difficult to dispose of. Nobody wants to handle it and it is not recycled. We have to address that.

Others have raised the point that green bins are for hard plastic only and not wrapping. That has to change to make it easier for people to follow and to recycle.

Senator Norris talked about "our" forests in Brazil. I stand over what I said: the Brazilians own their forests just as we own our bogs.