Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

I thank the Minister for attending. I welcome this legislation for the clarity it provides. In recent years we have seen that we are at a point now where our seas are being industrialised. There is no other way of putting it. It is a resource that has been lapping gently on our shores for hundreds of years yet it is only now that we are beginning to realise the potential of the sea and the shore. In so doing, I urge that we not race to exploit it because we have seen in recent years the dangers of exploiting certain areas on the land, particularly in regard to development. We have over-developed many parts of our country and built in places that should not have been built upon, such was the rush and the enthusiasm to make money and to develop.

While I support Senator Ó Domhnaill's views on the need for urgency regarding licences I believe we should be calm about that. If there is a queue for licences we do not want to issue them to everybody willy-nilly just because we want the jobs. The jobs must be sustainable. The shores and the waters are easily damaged and easily polluted and if in our rush to do this we do not do it through joined up thinking, we will lose the very thing we see as holding much potential for the future.

I welcome the legislation, particularly because of the interest in the environment and wind and wave energy. Although there is evidence to suggest, and the ESRI is one of the organisations that has referred to this, that we should examine land wind energy first because it is more efficient and cheaper, it is nevertheless the case that over time we will look to develop wind and wave energy.

I would have some serious concerns about the way in which some of the leases or licences were granted prior to this legislation being published. I am sure the Minister is well aware of that. We now have potentially the biggest wind parks if not in Europe then possibly in the world in Irish waters and it could be argued that some of those licences were handed out without the necessary scrutiny.

I am delighted that this legislation may bring clarity and greater responsibility and accountability to that entire area because there is no doubt there will be a race to exploit it. It is the next great thing, and it will not be simply about making Ireland energy efficient, as my colleague, Senator Comiskey, stated. That is desirable but it will also be about making money. The two companies that first built wind parks and established turbines have already sold on to other international companies. We must believe and understand that we are operating in a global world. If I understand correctly, one of the companies, General Electric, does not have permission to build turbines in waters off the United States yet it has turbines operating here. That is something about which we must be cautious and any legislation that will bring us protection while also enabling us to move forward, build industries and create much needed jobs is welcome.

We must also bear in mind that European Union environmental law is very strict. Suggestions have been made that we are already behind in our response to certain aspects of the environmental impact assessment directives regarding what we have done. We must bear in mind that whatever we do in the future we should be more aware of EU law because otherwise it will come back to bite us.

I, too, would like to state the obvious regarding aquaculture and fishing. These are areas in which we inevitably must create jobs. That is particularly the case in more remote areas of the country where those jobs are very much needed. While I welcome the fact that we would wish to grant those licences in a speedy and more efficient manner, and if the Minister can bring that to bear it would be welcome, I would guard against the sustainability of that. The world's population is increasing. We need more food, and fisheries will inevitably be more popular and sought to be exploited. We must not lose the run of ourselves and give it all away or develop it in a way that does not sustain. We have not been very good at understanding sustainability in the past 20 years. This is the time when we need to do that.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for this legislation. He referred to the utmost clarity. I trust and believe this legislation is the start of that process of clarity and I am sure there will be more in the years to come.