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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Marita Moloney

RTE viewers let thoughts be known after Dermot Bannon appearance on Prime Time

Viewers of RTE's Prime Time on Thursday night had mixed opinions after Dermot Bannon appeared via a clip featured on the show.

The special edition programme examined "the pitfalls being made in reaching our climate objectives and the resources that could be better utilised in achieving these goals".

Among the guests were Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, as well as Sinn Fein's spokesperson on Climate Action Darren O'Rourke and the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council Marie Donnelly.

READ MORE: Cost of living crisis a 'canary in the coal mine' for what lies ahead if energy supply not secured, says Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald

RTE Room to Improve host Dermot Bannon appeared in a clip that looked at whether making Irish homes more efficient can help to avert a climate disaster.

"Our housing stock is very very poor," the celebrity architect said.

"The average house in Ireland is a D1 rating, which is really poor in comparison to the rest of Europe.

"So we're starting from a very low base point.

"But the incentives that are there, what is available to people, what can be and what we are doing, is probably on a par with the rest of Europe.

"We have just got huge targets.

"But there's no point in comparing ourselves. Our country has got to do half a million homes in the next eight years, that is a massive boulder to push up a massive hill."

He added: "When it comes to retrofitting your home, Irish people tend to get it wrong. They just go for windows first.

"If you're to look at the list, you start with your walls. Your walls is where 35% of your heat goes out.

"Next is your roof, 25% of your heat goes out through your roof.

"15% of your heat goes out through your floor, and it's actually 10% of your heat that goes out through your windows.

"So you start with your walls, then your roof, floors, and then finally to your windows."

Prime Time viewers let their thoughts be known after Bannon's appearance, with some critical but others defending his comments.

Dermot Bannon (RTE)

One person said: "This is getting better and better. Dermot Bannon, the TV architect who has spent literally years studiously NOT talking about energy, insulation, retrofitting on @rte is now on #PrimeTime #climate special telling us all about what we need to do. Good man, Dermot."

However, one viewer defended Bannon by replying: "To be fair I do remember them dealing with home energy grants previously on Room to Improve. It's fitting an often 1 or even 2 year build into 42 mins of TV, can't expect it to be a focus all the time. Focuses on the clients needs or requirements."

Another person said: "No getting away from Dermot Bannon! From Blind Date to primetime,how is he getting away with it."

However, someone else was disappointed not to hear more from the architect.

They wrote: "Disappointing #PrimeTime. Dermot Bannon just a clip, & no one talking about how heat pumps work as advertised."

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