Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

Whenever I see the words "miscellaneous provisions" in a Bill, I become very wary because it tells me gaps must be plugged, holes must be filled and the collective backs of the promoting Department and the Minister concerned must be covered. When I see those words in an energy Bill, it tells me that such a Bill is needed because of the absence to date of an energy policy in this country.

The Minister might state his intention is to introduce a Green Paper as soon as possible and to fast-track this process. However, to be so delayed in discussing the ideas to formulate and implement a necessary energy policy shows how far behind we are and how far we need to go to address this most pressing of political problems. It is no accident that at this part of the electoral cycle and where we stand in terms of formulating policy to develop as a nation, especially economic development, the issue of energy has come centre stage. When the general election is held in the next year or so, it will be on the minds of many voters.

Much of our recent economic prosperity was bought on the back of a cheap fuel policy. In terms of short-term achievement, the Government might clap itself on the back. However, in historical terms it may end up being a very reckless use of policy. Every day, we learn of a further increase in the cost of oil and other fossil fuels. A cheap energy policy will no longer exist. It can no longer be the foundation of how we plan our society and economy for the future.

Despite what Deputy Cassidy described as achievements of this Government and our economy, we have become more reliant on the use of imported fossil fuels. We spend more time in our motor vehicles than people of any other country in Europe or the world. We are even beyond the prolific United States which seems to be the model of the cheap energy policy and economic development we have pursued for the past 15 years.

Now is the time, as the Minister has begun to realise by promoting the idea of a Green Paper, that things must change. Unfortunately, if the Minister, his colleagues and the political system listened to what my party stated 15 years ago, we would be 15 years further down that road. However this is not the time to be churlish. Some of what is being done must be recognised. Unfortunately, the Minister has not grasped that what needs to be done must be done in a much more bold, innovative and integrated way.

During the Private Members' debate this week, the Minister found himself under fire about a particular aspect of energy policy. The Minister also found accusations about his previous portfolios in the political arguments that were made against him, some of which were unfair. The Minister at least shows a capacity in Government to think out loud. He might not always show the capacity to think things through and some spectacular mistakes may have been made on his watch. However, we should not curtail the willingness to be innovative in politics. If it did not exist, change could never happen. While others in politics might succeed more on a personal level by keeping their heads down and their mouths shut, I do not believe the country benefits from such a selfish approach.

With that spirit in mind, my party is prepared to push the Minister in the right direction. He recently made a statement on renewable energy targets. I presume the fact it happened during the weekend of the Green Party convention was coincidental. I will take it as a vote of confidence.

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