I am glad the Deputy went back to 2011 because there was a massive increase in retrofitting of buildings in the period 2008 to 2011. We were in government at the time and I was the Minister responsible. I thought the roll-out and expansion of insulation of housing was critical. It fell back in subsequent years for a variety of complex reasons. Perhaps it was not centre stage. It is one of those projects that you can easily put off because it might be seen as a hassle. There are questions about what to do in technic…

Regarding the exact end-of-year figures, whether it is 27,800, 26,800 or 27,000, there are certain factors that are outside our control. These are 27,000 homes that must make a decision regarding timing and so on. One way or the other, either side of that figure is not the key measure. I am aware that 44,000 applications have been received, so the pipeline for next year is looking strong. The real constraint has been around the workforce. If you talk to anyone, you will realise that the demand is limitless at the m…

While the matter raised is a commercial matter for Bord na Móna, my Department understands that the company is preparing a new planning application for the proposed 150 MW Derryaad wind project and is currently consulting with the local community and other relevant stakeholders. The outcome of this extensive community outreach will inform the project and its scope. My Department also understands that Bord na Móna intends to submit the new planning application for the project to An Bord Pleanála under the provisions…

The location of wind farms is a sensitive issue. All Deputies in this House will have different views on where the appropriate locations might be. I believe there is a role in this regard for the likes of Bord na Móna's lands in the midlands for wind farms for a variety of reasons. First, Bord na Móna has historical experience of working with communities, employing people from communities and getting engineering projects delivered in a way that has the support of local communities. This has been one of the real dif…

When I visited the wind farm project I spoke about that was being developed by Bord na Móna, and it is now complete and operating. I also took the opportunity to visit an example of where Bord na Móna is engaged in the rehabilitation of bogs. I saw the skills the company had in extracting peat were the same skills needed in blocking drains and managing the water table. The Deputy is absolutely correct that it is possible to get an incredible return of nature, including birdlife, insect life and flora and fauna of e…

Officials in my Department met with representatives of the social enterprise referred to in the question. I welcome the trial, which I understand is in co-operation with Clúid Housing, and I look forward to seeing the results. The Government is acutely aware of the impact the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. A €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented last year and a package of once-off measures worth €2.5 billion was included in the recent budget. This included a new electri…

Not meaning to be rude, but I checked on my phone the EirGrid dashboard, which we all look at, I am sure, on a regular basis. One can see wind power is providing 55% of our needs as we speak. The Deputy is absolutely right. Increasingly, there are moments - we have seen it in the past month or six weeks - where the scale of the wind power resource available to us is beyond compare. Particularly in the middle of the night, that power, which is effectively coming in at almost a zero marginal cost as prices are very l…

My officials have met the company, as I said, and were enthused in reporting back to me. In April 2021, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage launched the scheme. The Government is fully appraised and supportive of it. The project was being run through Clúid Housing where the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has a particular interest but that will not preclude me from following up and keeping a keen eye on the results from it. It has implications, not only for the housing sector…

The new North-South interconnector, which will allow for the flow of 900 MW of electricity between Ireland and Northern Ireland, will be critical for improving the operation of the all-island integrated single electricity market, ISEM. It will also help to facilitate the achievement of the goal of generating up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland's economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of ene…

I, more than anyone else, regret the delay. As a Member of this House in 2003, I remember the then joint Oireachtas committee on energy having a presentation from EirGrid, our transmission grid company, at which it said that we urgently need a North-South interconnector. For many years looking at international experience and reading several reports, the clear analysis presented was that an overground wire was the only way one could do it. One could do it, potentially, on a high-voltage direct current where one can …

I want North-South interconnection and I-----

As Deputy O'Rourke said, I was referring to the issue of the recent regulatory decisions regarding SONI and EirGrid and, in my mind, the very regrettable changes that are afoot. Although it is hard to know because we do not have an administration up North, from the conversations and discussions I have had, my very clear understanding is that the Sinn Féin position was clearly in support of the Northern regulatory position. I find this very strange. I really find it hard to understand how this helps an all-island ap…

-----to do what is important for the wider country, as well as the local community. I believe the North-South interconnector is vital for the economic development of the Border counties.

I also believe at a time when energy bills are very high that it is one of the most effective immediate projects to bring down the cost of electricity for everyone and to create economic jobs and other opportunities. This will not be easy. I want to wait for the final further report. We have a list of reports as long as my arm looking at this. We will look at the latest one. I have not seen it yet and I want to read it and see it before I make any further statements.

The principle of us keeping and developing an all-island electricity market and energy market is vital. At present, that is at risk and to my mind, it is at risk from some of the policy positions Sinn Féin is taking.

I will attend COP27 as head of the Irish delegation for the second week of the conference from 14 to 18 November. Ireland continues to advocate for COPs to be transparent and inclusive for all, promoting the active participation of women and young people in negotiations, and facilitating civil society attendance and engagement. This remains the case more than ever for COP27. Human rights issues form part of Ireland's regular engagement with Egypt. Ireland has expressed concern regarding the protection of human righ…

One of the proudest moments I have had as a Member of the House was when I took part in a joint Oireachtas visit to Egypt six years ago to visit Ibrahim Halawa when he was in prison outside Cairo. I do not think anyone in the Chamber was on the delegation. It was one of the most important, interesting and engaging events I have taken part in. I am very familiar with what the Deputy has said in terms of freedom in Egypt for such prisoners and the need to think of them at this time. One measure we have progressed rec…

The Deputy is right. That fear is real and it belongs to every one of every party, age and country. It is the primary challenge we face in this time. It has to guide us towards radical system change to reduce emissions. The test of that will come in the near future when our latest iteration of the climate action plan will put forward proposals in areas such as transport, energy, agriculture and industry, which have gone beyond compare in the scale of the changes that need to be made. Many of the changes will not be…

I engaged Mr. Dermot McCarthy, former Secretary General to the Government and the Department of the Taoiseach, to conduct an independent review into the circumstances requiring emergency measures to be introduced to secure electricity supply over the coming winters. Mr. McCarthy's engagement, along with the terms of reference for the review, were noted by Government at its meeting on 14 June 2022. The review is being conducted under the following terms of reference: to identify factors which have contributed to the…

I thank the Deputy. As I said, the first of the terms of reference related to the factors which contributed to the capacity shortfall and that directly relate to the auction to which the Deputy referred. In 2019, 500 MW of power was not delivered. That is the first item on the terms of reference, in terms of what factors contributed to that. With regard to emergency generation, I want to thank the Deputy's party and other Members of the House for their overwhelming support for emergency legislation, unwelcome as it…