Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I wish to emphasise again the important points to be borne in mind about the development of the energy industry and the recognition of the dependence of the industrial, commercial and domestic sector on the availability of energy supply. The Government amendment does not deal with the important and pertinent issue of security of supply, notwithstanding the fact it has taken on board most of Fine Gael policy on the matter. We will help the Government to develop that policy in the future.

The experience to date with regard to the Corrib gas field is not a good example for the rest of the world. The matter has been dealt with in a haphazard, unprofessional and roundabout manner. If the regulations had been observed and the matter processed in the proper fashion, we would not have had the embarrassing situation of having an offshore resource which cannot be brought ashore. The Government must focus on this area in the development of the energy industry for the future.

The Government needs to give the appearance of being efficient, in control and of handling the energy industry in a businesslike fashion. Much depends on this, including industry in this country and dealings with our neighbours. No reference has yet been made to the availability of an interconnector or to how we will avail of it or how it can benefit us. This area needs discussion as it will arise in the context of another Bill. In dealing with the energy industry in general, I ask that in future the matter be dealt with in a professional manner and that we do not have a repeat of the daft situation that has arisen over the Corrib gas field. I will not go into it further other than to express the wish on behalf of Fine Gael and, I am sure, every Member of this House, that the resource is developed to the best of our ability and that it is brought wherever for the use by and benefit of the country as quickly as possible.

Very little reference has been made to the development of the alternative energy industry, with the exception of the recently rushed out Government paper on this area. We are unlike other European countries in that we have a limited number of options of which to avail. For example, we do not have, nor should we have, nuclear energy but we have a number of other alternatives that we should develop. Even in the Government's policy that it announced there are serious gaps which omit important aspects of the development of the alternative energy industry. I ask that in future, since it has not been incorporated in the context of this motion or amendment, that it be given a special status and serious effort put into research and development in that area.

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