Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this motion and I thank the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ossian Smyth, and also the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who was in the House earlier.

We are seeing the rising costs of energy. I thank the Senators who tabled the motion. The budget will be very much about mitigating and reducing costs and we will see that in a number of different areas. One of the key areas will be around the fuel allowance and the people who are most vulnerable. I am looking forward to seeing what will be done in that regard and also as regards supports for businesses. On a matter that has been raised previously, small businesses, such as retailers, hotels and restaurants, are out on their feet because they are being forced to deal with incredibly high costs. It will not be easy to manage how we support them. There are long-term solutions such as engaging more renewable energies. We have done so much over the lockdown and during Covid-19 to support these employers and employees of businesses and now we need to be smart and innovative about how we will support them going forward. They are dealing with challenges. We have seen positive developments such as the increase in the minimum wage announced today. However, when it comes to energy costs, I look forward to seeing what will come out of the budget in terms of supports for businesses.

I am sure the Minister of State will get a chance to speak at the end of the debate. I know the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has spoken already. I am interested in the short-term measures the Department will potentially take. We know about the long-term measures and what has been done under just transition. There is legislation on microgeneration pending that will deal with solar energy and give farms and schools access to renewable energy, which they will then be able to sell back into the grid. I ask the Minister of State to comment on the timeline for some of those measures and the short-term measures that can be implemented quickly.

How will the Government use new technologies? We often speak about how we are going to reduce energy costs. People are going to be smarter and maybe think about reducing usage during the peak period between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. That will indicate the cost of electricity. How are we using new technologies? We see sensor lights that turn on and off when people walk into the room. How do we support those technologies? Are there short-term measures that would help businesses reduce costs? Are there any grants or funding for those types of technologies that could be rolled out very quickly and would help those businesses in the months ahead? This a difficult time and we have a very challenging time ahead. I look forward to finding out how we are going to be smart in dealing with that and engaging with and using innovation to support us.