Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the context of what Senator Burke said about access to revenue and funding, when it comes to retrofitting, we must make it simpler and more straightforward for people to fit solar panels to their family homes and businesses. If we do that, it will be a bit like the comment on the issue of public transport in that we will get buy-in from people and people will move towards retrofitting and putting solar panels on the roofs of their houses if we make it easier. There is a fear among people that the grant only covers a certain amount and they cannot get to the required amount. That lacuna needs to be addressed.

Senator Boylan referred to data centres. My information is that data centres are not the source of the issue. They did not use three quarters of the energy that was available to them. Only 25% was used. It is important we have that debate. However, on the point Senator Boylan makes on the profits of the oil companies, and I think she will find a bit of agreement from me on this, President Biden in the US recently called on big oil in America to have less profit and more production. There is a need for the oil companies to be honest in terms of what they supply and the prices they charge. The issue of profits is one thing, but the oil companies have a moral duty to respond to the distribution of profits and the impact of the higher oil prices on people's pockets.