Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure Deputy Doherty that we would welcome him with open arms. However, we need to deal with this part because it is not sufficient to say there is a worldwide trend of increasing energy. That is fine, but the worldwide trend then becomes the driving force as opposed to the necessity. I am looking for the necessity.

There is another issue that needs to be dealt with by all parties in the House. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is right in that we have been very lax in our delivery of alternative energy. Ten, 12, 14 or 15 years ago, politicians of all hues in the House made great capital out of supporting people who were in opposition to wind turbines and onshore and offshore wind farms and the opposition still goes on. At the present time, I am intoning that the level of investment, either in onshore, offshore or other alternative energy, is far short of what is required. We need to take that issue on board and enable the areas that are capable of providing the alternatives to do so without imposing negatively on the consumer. It should not impose on the consumer. What are the Minister's comments on that, apart from Deputy Doherty attending the Fine Gael meeting?