Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

On the successor to Sustaining Progress, in respect of which I hope there will be a satisfactory outcome to the discussions, will the Taoiseach indicate whether the lessons learned from the Irish Ferries issue will give rise to any change to the current agenda? Does the Taoiseach have in mind any guarantee for the rights of workers in this jurisdiction that could form part of a successor to Sustaining Progress? Does he really believe this can stop with Irish Ferries? Is there not a danger that Ryanair will want to explore the possibility of following the same low cost option and the pressure will then impact on Aer Lingus and Ryanair competing with Iarnród Eireann will put pressure on competitors down the line? Did the Taoiseach look into this to see if we are unravelling a social understanding which exists or can we say that this is as far as it will go with Irish Ferries?

One of my questions to the Taoiseach concerned contingency plans for and discussions on fuel prices. Is it not time to recognise the benefit of having an environmental pillar in the partnership process and to recognise that what may be challenges for more conservative sectors are opportunities in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energy options for other sectors? It should be put into the new partnership agreement so that we may benefit from the opportunities the change in fuel prices will bring while having to accommodate that change. Ireland is unique in being unable to connect domestic renewable energy providers to the grid and in not having any grant system for installation of solar panels and for many other technologies that are taken for granted in other countries. Will the Taoiseach take that suggestion on board?

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