Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

We should exploit the resources we have. While we are playing catch-up, let us try to make use of wind and wave power.

Some of our problems in this area arise from the moratorium placed on the wind industry by the regulator in December 2004, the results of which we are only now experiencing. We need more radical proposals before the House to encourage not only wind energy but also the solar, ethanol and biofuel sectors. A caller to a radio programme this morning suggested he was interested in installing solar panels in his house but to buy two panels would cost €4,000 and to install them would cost more. We need to consider new ways, and the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister for Finance have——

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