How many sections of the European directive 2019/944 on the common rules for the Internal Market for electricity have been transposed into Irish law? Will the Taoiseach confirm or check that the community elements of the directive have been so transposed? I am anxious to ensure there is potential for large-scale community projects which would, for example, be catered for in the event of Bord na Móna lands being returned to communities which provided those lands to Bord na Móna when that opportunity arose in the 194…

I want to raise a similar issue regarding energy security in homes. It is reported the Minister recently said he would seek to ban oil burners in 2025. I am not aware of this being in the programme for Government but I am aware of a concerted effort by that industry to encourage the conversion of oil burners to accommodate hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO. This is a transition fuel that has the impact of reducing emissions by 85% over a ten-year period. It would be advisable and I encourage the Government to look fa…

If I was to be politically brutally honest I would say that one of Fianna Fáil's mistakes in recent years was to extend the confidence and supply agreement beyond three years. It was probably compounded when we voted confidence in that Government's housing Minister and its housing policy. It did, of course, allow the Opposition the opportunity to portray Fianna Fáil as compliant and complicit in Fine Gael's and Labour's policies since 2011. As we all know, that simply was not the case. Despite that misrepresentatio…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on energy security. My interest in this area was particularly heightened following the decision of An Bord Pleanála some years ago to reject applications by ESB to co-fuel peat and biomass at Lanesborough and Shannonbridge. That decision brought forward and cliff-edged the decarbonisation of Bord na Móna by some eight years. Its impact on Offaly and the region was and is severe. It forced me at the time to ensure that the Government ring-fenced carbon tax reven…

Many years ago tribunals were put in place by the State to root out many malpractices associated with land zoning and consequently planning. Thankfully, new procedures, obligations and processes were put in place, many overseen by the likes of SIPO. I know that is up for review based on recent events, notwithstanding many other events also. The Dáil will take up that challenge in the coming weeks and months. Planning is supposedly consistent with national and regional guidelines and associated with relevant constru…

I welcome the opportunity to speak, even if briefly, on this issue. Of course, one could not be expected to cover the whole gamut associated with the transition of the economy and the effort on the part of Government to meet its target in regard to emissions right up to 2030 and even beyond to 2050. I will deal with a few issues that are pertinent to my own constituency and that have been greatly impacted, initially by the acceleration of decarbonisation long before the introduction of carbon budgets or the new tar…

I will help.

Like others, I welcome this opportunity. We never have enough time to get through all we want to get through save for reminding the Minister of State of the obligations that are on Government and of the commitments that have been made and to seek to ensure that those commitments are acted on and provided for and have the desired effect and impact. I am from the constituency that is arguably the most impacted by the acceleration of decarbonisation in recent years. We have seen the earlier than anticipated closure of…

Last Tuesday, the Irish Independent carried a story by Charlie Weston on a EUROSTAT report that shows that Irish electricity prices are 25% above the European average. Last year, I highlighted concerns about the State's inability to provide adequate competition in the energy market, resulting in excessive prices for consumers, both household and business. I highlighted the fact that despite the assertion that renewables have their place in energy provision in this country, mainly from onshore wind, there is no ment…

-----will be initiated to challenge and investigate these issues and to find out why is it that the authorities and those regulators and a body such as Eirgrid-----

-----charged with the responsibility to ensure competition, have not done so to date?

I think the Minister of State and I appreciate her position here this evening in seeking to respond on behalf of the Minister. I appreciate that the Minister of State wishes to relay to the House just the information she has, which emanates from the Minister and his Department. I do not doubt the impact of international price pressures on our ability to provide electricity at the price it is today. I do not doubt the impact of war on that ability to provide energy at the prices we are charged today. However, intern…

-----point towards manipulation by a provider or point towards state aid not being fair on competitors.

My question relates to the Cabinet subcommittee on economic recovery and investment. Notwithstanding that its recent meetings were sure to deal with issues pertaining to the cost of living, I specifically have a question about the costs associated with energy not only for households but also for business and its activities. In recent weeks another independent report and assessment appeared to indicate that the prices in Ireland are 25% over and above the European average, notwithstanding international pressures and…

In the context of the sub-committee dealing with climate change, will the Taoiseach check to see when the territorial plan will be agreed and submitted to the Commission in order to draw down the matched funding to the NDP, which is €84 million, to provide the just transition funding and allow the body administering it, namely, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, to be set up and in place to effect the sort of impact we wanted and expected to see on foot of the decision by An Bord Pleanála in 2019 to close p…

Will the Minister of State inform the House about the cumulative measures that have been taken by the Government to address the cost of living issues since and including budget 2022? I ask in order that the House be especially aware of the effort on the part of Government in this area. It has committed to these measures on numerous occasions in the House but I ask that the cumulative measures and the costs associated with them be relayed.

I thank the Minister of State. I note that the value of the measures the Minister of State has relayed is over €2.1 billion. I would like to ask him about the VAT commitments that have been made for the period until October of this year. Given the situation in Ukraine, and the impact of the war on energy prices, does the Minister of State see the VAT rate being revisited and the measure being extended? Maybe he would inform the House if that is the Government's thinking in this regard if the current circumstances r…

Did the Taoiseach discuss the energy crisis during his meeting with the German Chancellor? For example, did the Taoiseach seek the German Chancellor's support were he to raise at the meeting in Versailles the option for the European Union to champion the provision of a European renewable super-energy grid, combining the potential of Ireland's west coast offshore capabilities with southern Europe's solar potential? While this would surpass the programme for Government commitments in this regard by the Government, it…

I welcome the scheme that has been presented to the House. It was a critical element of the programme for Government for Fianna Fáil and for me. It is the first real tangible link that has been made for households between the carbon tax revenue and their transition, beyond the existing warmer homes scheme, and we welcome the improvements announced to that scheme as well. I am particularly conscious of the 80% grant for works costing up to €3,000 to accommodate endeavours such as attic insulation, cavity insulation …

The skills shortage across many sectors has been exacerbated by the pandemic. While many businesses thankfully survived that terrible vista, in no small way due to the financial supports from the Government, such as the wage subsidy schemes, the CRSS, waiving of rates, warehousing of tax returns etc., the re-opening presents its own challenges. Not least of these is the impact of energy and fuel costs, but there is a further and serious issue of skills shortage and unavailability of work, both at home and, it would…