Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the chance to raise this very important issue. I could not help raising the matter after listening to the Taoiseach speak at the launch of the wind power plant off the coast of Arklow last week. He made it clear that he wished something could be done to ensure wind power would be fully utilised and that we would have a scheme in place shortly.

It reminded me that when AERVI licences were given out over two years, a commitment was given by the then Minister to those who failed to get licences that they would get an opportunity to proceed with their schemes through some other mechanism in a very short time. However, this has not happened yet and it needs to be dealt with urgently. For example, on Bendoo Mountain in the Kill area of County Cavan, 28 farmers have come together to provide sites for 33 or 35 wind turbines. This arrangement had been sorted out legally, planning permission had been granted and the application was made. However, the company has not received the go-ahead for the scheme or any support.

I raise this issue for two reasons. We have a serious problem with the cost of electricity and the cost of the fossil fuels that provide it. However, there is also an onus on this country at European level to provide as much green energy as it can. Second, those farmers understood three years ago that they would be in a position to get a reasonable additional income from their mainly poor quality farm land. An income from wind power would be an additional bonus for them that they could depend on each year.

It makes economic sense for Ireland to encourage the building of a significant percentage of renewable generation plants, confined not just to windmills but to other renewable sources. This would be at a known fixed cost and would therefore provide a hedge or insurance policy against volatile fossil fuel prices. Ireland is much more vulnerable to fossil fuel prices than its European competitors, with 97% of its electricity derived from fossil fuels. There should therefore be support mechanisms which would promote the maximum exploitation of Ireland's key natural renewable source, which is wind. This should be targeted in both on-shore and off-shore projects. We saw the opening of an off-shore plant the other day.

Given that Ireland is moving towards an all-Ireland energy market and an all-Ireland electricity market in 2007, it makes sense to realign renewable energy support in the Republic with that applying in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has just introduced the UK system of renewable obligation certificates, a market-based support mechanism whereby all electricity suppliers are forced to buy certificates from renewable generators. The cost of the ROC system then acts as a support for renewable generators.

We must ensure that all possible renewable energy is used in this country. We must no longer allow those individuals who wish to develop renewable energy to move to Scotland, Spain, the US and other places to do the work they want to do here. I hope the Minister of State tells us that aid will be made available at a level that will justify establishing these very valuable sources of energy. I welcome whatever good news the Minister of State has.

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