John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister who has clearly outlined the challenges and the opportunities ahead in the energy sector. Significant change has taken, is taking and will take place. The Green Paper highlights the reduction in energy needs since 2007. Energy demand has fallen by 19% and as a result, CO2 emissions have reduced by 21%. Transport energy demand has reduced by 27%, with a 43% reduction in demand for freight transport. Has the downturn in the economy given us a better opportunity to plan? Has it allowed us to meet our targets and so on?

The alternative question is where would we be now if the economy had continued to boom. Would it have meant the country would have had a serious shortage on the electricity grid?