Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

This motion has identified the need to incentivise the use of biofuels, which is welcome. However, I am surprised that given the widespread public concern about the price of gas and home heating oil the list of demands was so limited. The two areas that absorb the greatest amount of energy are transport and our homes. Clearly, we need to adopt an energy policy that looks at changes in these two key areas.

Given that €20 million of taxpayers' money has been set aside in this year's budget under the heading, carbon trading, which allows developed countries buy pollution permits from poorer countries, it makes economic sense that our dependence on imported energy sources, which is currently as high as 90% and is something of which this Administration should be ashamed, should have been attacked aggressively in the lifetime of the Government. Despite a huge increase in energy use, the fact that alternative energies contribute less than 3% to that demand is scandalous.

It makes complete economic sense for us to make significant inroads into changing our ways. We need to stop focusing on shunting vehicles around and consider how we can move people and goods much more efficiently. There is no better way to do this than by building a comprehensive public transport system. While there are many positive proposals in Transport 21, a delivery timeframe of ten years is too long and must be reconsidered.

Renewable energy comes in many shapes and forms. Some types, such as solar energy, can be generated in a home setting. With gas and home heating oil prices set to rocket, there is no doubt that some householders will be in a position to change the energy they use in their homes. Clearly, this was the intention of the grant package announced recently. I repeat the complaint I made last week about the difficulties being encountered by some people in trying to ascertain if they need planning permission for such projects. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has not issued guidelines to local authorities. We need joined-up thinking in this area if people are to get involved. A campaign to inform the public must be initiated on how people can reduce their energy consumption, together with action packs on changing to renewable energies.

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