I welcome the Government's plans to increase the amount of microgeneration of energy across the country. This is a good thing. Anything that diversifies and democratises our energy supply is something that should be incentivised and supported. Every Deputy in this Chamber is aware, however, that there has been a massive increase in energy costs, in particular electricity costs, over the past few months. However, there has not been a concurrent increase in the feed-in tariffs that energy companies are willing to pay micro-producers.

Does the Taoiseach accept that the energy companies cannot have it both ways? They cannot increase the price they are charging to consumers, while not increasing the price they are willing to pay these micro-producers. I would be grateful if the Taoiseach could take this matter up with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government approved the microgeneration support scheme in December of last year. This scheme provides supports for up to 380 MW of microgeneration by 2030. To facilitate export from microgenerators, on 15 February the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications signed regulations to transpose Articles 21 and 22 of the recast renewable energy directive. These regulations place an obligation on suppliers to offer the clean export guarantee, CEG, tariff to new and existing micro and small-scale generators. Under the climate plan, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is to complete the implementation of an interim microgeneration system and market change solution, which is on target to be completed in quarter 2 of this year. This solution will facilitate households to be remunerated by their suppliers for the excess renewable electricity they provide to the grid via the CEG tariff. The CRU published a decision on an interim and enabling framework for the CEG that outlines the arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and the remuneration methodology. I will take the matter up further with the Minister.