Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

It is appropriate the Bill is being debated on the same day as a debate took place on how our oil and gas reserves are under the control of foreign multinationals. The Government is using two inadequate reports on the safety of the Corrib oil pipeline to justify the project and proceeding against the wishes of most people in the area.

Alternative energy supplies became the focus of debate following the publication of the Forfás report on the future availability of oil supplies. The report suggested the possibility of nuclear energy fulfilling Ireland's energy demand. That has been overwhelmingly rejected by the entire spectrum of opinion. I am glad that members of the Government are at one on this issue. There is all-party support in opposing the use of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source. That is hardly surprising given the ongoing concerns regarding the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant. The eastern seaboard is sitting on a time-bomb regarding the plant. Forfás also referred to replacing some of our dependence on fossil fuels through the use of alternative sources, most notably wind and wave power, and biofuels. Wave power is the least debated of these sources. We are an island with access to Atlantic currents, a possible alternative source. The currents on the west coast could generate enough electricity to surpass even what is being produced by wind power now. This source has not been investigated properly. The opportunity exists to harness this resource and it should be taken up.

Wind power has enormous potential. One report suggests that the current proportion of electricity supplied from this source could be increased to 20% of demand with no increase in costs to the consumer. The landscape of this country and the winds it generates offer great potential for the development of wind energy. We do not utilise it properly and for those in rural areas where land lies idle, better use of this resource would be welcome. Objectors who oppose and prevent small and medium size farmers from using their land to increase wind farming are preventing the exploitation of a major renewable energy source.

There was an argument in west Limerick and north Kerry about the dangers to the hen harrier to prevent the development of wind farms in that area. The hen harrier could be resettled in another area easily according to wildlife experts. The process has been held up even though land that has no agricultural value is available along the entire west coast. Deputy McEntee mentioned that seven farmers leave the land every week and I have heard figures as high as ten per week. If this facility were in place, land could be used to contribute to our energy needs while maintaining the way of life in rural areas.

The installation of turbines would require an increase in the amount of land involved but this is estimated to be 0.5% at most. Given the number of suitable sites that are not in agricultural use, that should not present a problem. This is a small investment for a potentially huge return.

A number of wind projects are in operation but concern has been voiced over the awarding of contracts. I am not making accusations but allegations have been levelled that one company is being favoured because of political connections. This suspicion must be dispelled.

It is vital that the sector is properly regulated and that the State takes a proactive role in research and development and, in practical terms, through the ESB, establishes wind farms. It will be argued on an ideological basis that the State should have no role in such an area but that argument overlooks the reason utilities were developed under public control in the first instance. Private enterprise is uninterested, incapable or solely concerned with increasing profits. It only becomes involved in projects which offer substantial financial benefit. We are talking, however, about energy, something that affects us all and that should not be about profit; it should be about securing the resources at an affordable price for those who use it.

The same argument can be made for biofuels. This State has enormous potential for the production of energy crops, especially under the single farm payment. The relevant Departments increasingly recognise this through the various grant schemes available. There was a presentation on this in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food yesterday. With the closure of the beet processing factories in Mallow and Carlow, a huge vacuum exists for the 3,800 beet growers who now have no income. I am glad to see beet is now being considered as an ingredient for biofuel production. Beet growers could continue to grow the crop provided there is a plant that can process it for biofuels. It is of concern that there is no obligation on Greencore, in spite of the closure of both factories, to make them available if it does not want to. I argue that there is an obligation on the Government and the Minister for Agriculture and Food to ensure that what was created by the labour of small farmers before it was sold off to the private sector should continue to be available for biofuel production.

Not only should we be able to meet the EU targets for the proportion of vehicle biofuel supplies, we could pave the way for a more ambitious sector that would benefit farmers and those involved in processing. Unless steps are taken to encourage a strong Irish processing sector, in the future we will be as dependent on biofuel imports as we now are on fossil fuel imports.

I urge the Minister as part of a review of the energy sector to encourage indigenous, renewable energy sources and to reconsider the current terms and conditions governing the control of our island's gas reserves.

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