Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We will see. My view on clean, renewable energy is that it will stand the test of time. To what extent is it recognised across Europe that we cannot depend indefinitely on energy supplies of an increasing volume, nature and variety? We cannot depend on that indefinitely. It will not happen. This is especially the case as climate change issues emerge, converge and impact on our European policy, because we will be expected to be self-sufficient in energy, or to get as near to that as possible. To what extent are the European institutions co-operating with national governments and with the regions to identify and support the concept of providing and addressing?

What have the witnesses seen as possible obstructions to achieving equal distribution of resources and investment across the Continent of Europe, within the European Union, eurozone and non-eurozone? Have they identified the deficiencies in their areas as they see them, for example, obstacles to youth employment, addressing long-term unemployment, and so forth? Have they come to a conclusion on why Ireland should recover more quickly than some other countries that have far greater resources in terms of economic recovery and achieving economic growth? What has been done to address those issues throughout Europe with a view to putting in place measures that will electrify European performance, which is certainly in need of that?

Ms Gerstenberger referred to the fact it is not always possible for European industry to obtain the required educational skills to fill positions. Is that true in its entirety? For example, is the possibility of relocating to China or south-east Asia in general, thereby availing of far lower wage costs, not an influencing factor? We have heard much in recent times about the double Irish, the double Dutch, and so on, which can be an unfair advantage for some European countries. It can also be an unfair advantage for major multinational corporations to relocate to low-wage economies, for example, China, to avail of all the benefits that can accrue from that, which are at least as significant as the so-called double Irish. It should also be borne in mind that such companies export their products to the 500 million population on the Continent of Europe.