Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

If I heard the Taoiseach correctly, in his original reply he said he is concerned about environmentally sustainable growth but needs to maintain the momentum. Will there be awareness at the March European Council meeting of the serious phenomenon of the peak of oil production which is imminent if it has not already been reached? Even the most optimistic forecasters and geologists predict it will peak by 2010. For example, will the biomass action plan be on the agenda? Launched by the EU in December 2005, it indicates the EU is meeting 4% of its energy needs from biomass. Will the Government be able to catch up quickly, given that we are very much behind, at 0.06%, as per the 2005 figures, as against 3.7% for the Czech Republic while the EU average is 1.4%. Will the Taoiseach indicate to the March Council meeting whether Ireland has a genuine interest in catching up or will we always be behind in that regard?

The European Commission Green Paper on Energy Policy was due to be completed by spring this year. Will that be on the agenda for the March Council meeting and will the Taoiseach have an input, given that it will probably flag nuclear power again? Will he tell the British Prime Minister, for example, that the prospect of nuclear power in Northern Ireland will not be acceptable to the Irish Government, if Mr. Blair is pushing that agenda?

Will the meeting discuss the conclusions of the Council of Europe which call on the EU to introduce tougher controls to ensure checks on aircraft passing through the territory of member states being used for illegal purposes? Hungary, apparently, is the only country that is regarded as having laws that are in any way acceptable in this regard. The Council of Europe Secretary General believes that Europe, particularly Ireland, is a happy hunting ground for foreign security services. Given the seriousness of that report, will the issue be raised?

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