Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I have two suggestions for the Taoiseach on matters that he might consider raising at the European Council. The first is the development of a European perspective on wind energy. We face a €450 million fine for not complying with the Kyoto Protocol. There does not appear to be a European perspective on this issue. Engineers from various countries have come here and said that within 20 years we could be 80% self-sufficient in terms of energy contributed from wind. I spoke to Airtricity recently, which wants European backing to build a 50,000 kilowatt station off the north coast of England. This is worthy of consideration by European leaders. We need a European perspective on wind energy. Is this an issue that the Taoiseach would consider raising at an appropriate time during the EU Council meeting?

My second suggestion is that the European Heads of Government should put an initiative in place to deal with the scourge of paedophilia, which is trans-border in nature and a problem in every country. There should be a European perspective and analysis of paedophilia, its causes, genetic or otherwise, and how best the problem can be dealt with, not on a country by country basis but on a Europe wide basis. Is that something the Taoiseach would consider raising at the European Council meeting?

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