Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister accept that investment in research and development is likely to have the greatest impact in terms of broadening the base for renewable energy in the future? Will he agree that this is accepted by the recently published report of the European Commission? Does he not agree that €20 million or €100 million invested in research and development will have much more impact than carbon trading, in terms of value and in terms of achievement of our targets?

Incidentally, if the Minister is getting that electric car, he should not use the Japanese model, the prototype of which was launched recently. It goes at 187 mph and accelerates from zero to 60 mph in three seconds. Even Ministers should be careful about something like that.

See this speech in context