Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann, mindful of the continued increase in the costs of energy arising from global instability and the threat this presents to our economy coupled with the economic impact of our failure to meet our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol,

—condemns the Government for its failure to act in a meaningful way to act on the alternative energy agenda; and

—believes the current measures in place to improve Ireland's renewable energy output are totally inadequate;

calls for:

—the removal of all excise duty on biofuels to stimulate production;

—legislation compelling all filling stations to include a 2% mix of biodiesel in all diesel sold and a 5% mix of ethanol in all petrol sold;

—a system of labelling for all new motor vehicles based on energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources, similar to that currently used on electrical appliances;

—reform of vehicle registration tax to reward those vehicles granted a more efficient energy rating; and

—the setting up of the appropriate agency to co-ordinate the research and development required to develop the renewable energy sector.

I propose to share time with Deputies Olivia Mitchell, Connaughton, Stanton and Deenihan.

This Fine Gael motion incorporates and encompasses a policy on an issue that has become more important every day. The question of renewable energy has taken on a new impetus in recent times. Most other EU countries, the European Commission and various groups and bodies in this country have decided to make energy a priority. The issue of security of supply is the one issue that focuses everybody's attention. Security of supply does not mean much until such time as the supply disappears. For instance, just today in County Offaly, one part of the supply disappeared very quickly in the form of a new power station which had only been built a few years ago at a cost of €240 million.

This motion refers to the introduction of a reliable, renewable energy supply and a process of back-up which has not been achieved to date. Security of supply, economic viability and sustainability are all required, as is the requirement for the supply to be renewable. Most of all, we need the supply to be a clean one. We do not wish to have residues or waste which need to be disposed of at some later date with the obvious consequences for future generations.

It is essential to recognise that this country has a particular opportunity to move away from the trend in other European countries of taking the nuclear option as the easy option. This side of the House believes that the nuclear option is not an option and that we cannot afford it. I disagree strongly with recent newspaper headlines to the effect that nuclear energy is safest and the cleanest. It may be the cheapest but it may not be the cleanest nor the safest. It is important that we develop the other alternatives to such an extent that we can rely upon them.

To develop security of supply, it is recognised by all that we need to have a back-up system for wind energy in the event of the wind not blowing all the time, despite what we would like. We need interconnectors to ensure that we can draw from our next door neighbours and from Europe if necessary. It should not follow that we should be forced to wait until the lights go out to start planning and thinking.

I would have thought that the Minister and his predecessor would have drawn up a policy for the future because oil and fuel prices have fluctuated over recent years and it was quite clear what would happen in the future. Even the smallest hint of a worldwide crisis immediately constitutes a major crisis in the fuel area with consequent price increases in a barrel of oil. The oil companies will laugh all the way to the bank for as long as this continues to be the situation and there is a doubt about security of supply.

This economy has been growing rapidly for the past ten to 12 years and it will continue to grow. However, it cannot unless there is an adequate and reliable supply of energy. It must be a supply that can be relied upon by the industrial, domestic and commercial consumer at all times. If this does not happen, public confidence in the economy will dwindle and investment will, in the future, go to areas where it is known there is a reliable source of energy.

I made the point in a debate last week that this country has a professional attitude and can dispose of the business in hand in an efficient, effective and economic fashion. We do not need to have the kind of ongoing running battles that have occurred with regard to the Corrib gas field, where all the issues that should have been resolved long beforehand were resolved afterwards, to the detriment of public confidence in the economy and in the system.

The other side of the House is in an urgent rush to privatise everything. The ESB has given very good service to this country through its provision of energy over the years. I recognise the need for competition to be introduced into the marketplace and the ESB, like everyone else, must compete in the marketplace. I am confident it will have no difficulty in doing so. I warn the Government to take care not to allow a situation develop similar to that with Eircom whereby the future of the development of a particular industry was suddenly put in the hands of investors. A utility service requires more than investment; it also requires customer satisfaction. Without customer satisfaction being involved, confidence in the future of the business will dwindle with obvious consequences. I ask the Minister to recognise the potential for disaster. It is essential that renewables are introduced.

The Minister's amendment to the motion will state that the Government has introduced a programme for renewables. This is a watered down version of the policy document which Fine Gael produced. I thought that with all the spin doctors, advisers, national handlers, spokesmen and spokeswomen, the Government would have been light years ahead of the Opposition. However, it was we who produced the first documentation in this area and it was we who forged ahead and set an example for the Government, notwithstanding all the spin doctors and advisers bought and paid for at the taxpayers' expense. If energy were to be sourced from that area, we would have a great deal of it.

The two Government parties must together take responsibility for the failure to introduce a meaningful energy policy. One of the chief issues lacking in that area is the lack of co-ordination. There has been no joined-up thinking. The Departments of Agriculture and Food, Finance, Transport and the Department responsible for energy must all co-operate to bring together a policy which will be sufficiently broadly based and will receive support. The farming community has seen its sugar industry decimated by the failure of the Government to recognise what was happening. Fine Gael will offer some hope to the farming community in its policy on the sugar industry. Fine Gael has decided that each Department has a role to play in conservation as it pertains to the motor industry and in the issues of insulation, home heating and the general costs of home heating. It is regrettable that it fell to the Opposition, despite having none of the helping hands of advisers, spokespersons, spear carriers and helpers of all kinds, to set the example. In the course of this debate, my colleagues will set out our proposals further.

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