Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will respond to some of the points that have been made as I have been frantically taking notes. I thank the Green Party Senators - Senators Garvey, Pauline O'Reilly, Martin and Hackett - for introducing the Bill. All contributors made the point about power being given back to communities and young people in our schools, not just as a demonstration but as tangible projects they can be involved in allowing them to see they can make a difference in their own communities.

Senator Garvey mentioned the rural perspective and the relationship to farming. Senator Boyhan made a valid point related to regulations associated with the Bill. I will address that specifically in my formal closing address. However, I still believe this is a worthy Bill to introduce and we have had a good debate. Whenever I come to the Seanad, I am always impressed by the level of debate and engagement. The cross-party support for the Bill is testament to the significance and importance of it. Senator Boyhan also mentioned the Aarhus Convention and public engagement. That has been deeply embedded in climate action to date and will continue to be. A point was also raised about heritage buildings.

Several Senators mentioned photovoltaic panels and solar panels. They have 25-year lifespans and all the parts are recyclable. Senator Mullen also raised the point about their carbon footprint. Last week, I visited the Met Éireann offices and I asked about carbon capture on our bogs and bog rewetting given that the projections are for our lands to become increasingly drier with the water tables lowering over time. I asked if rewetting was the correct action and the response from Met Éireann was that it is the correct action for now.Issues have been raised about the technology. It is the correct technology for now because we have to rapidly decarbonise our economy and our society. This is a technology available to us now and one which we should deploy and use. That is really important.

Senator Dooley made reference to the ambassadors for change and Senator Cummins referenced the points made by the Irish Farmers Association. Again, I am meeting with the IFA. If we can provide alternative technologies for the farming community to embrace, I believe it will embrace them. It will provide alternative sources of income. The national herd can be naturally reduced by giving alternative incomes to our farming communities.

A few Senators raised issues with regard to aviation and the aviation safeguarding map. That is important and specialised work that has to be tendered for. That process is under way and will take a number of months. As has been raised by Friends of the Earth Ireland, there is already a solar array in Dublin Airport. The assessment of glint and glare for that particular array was location-specific. Such assessments will be carried out for the entire airport.

It is important to note that, looking at the greater Dublin area in particular, there is significant potential around buildings. The 15 km exclusion area is very large and tunnels right into Dublin city centre. In light of all of the industrial buildings and data centres in that area that have potential and whose demand for energy is great, it is important that we put in a place a system under which this will be a lot easier to deploy.

Senator Mullen made a point and suggested that climate action is an alternative religion. If it is, I am a believer. It is vitally important that we all embrace it.