Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

It is impossible in the short time available to describe comprehensively my reaction to the Book of Estimates. Government press releases in recent days have described it as wonderful and have observed that more money is being spent than ever before. Are we expected to believe that the Government might reasonably spend less in the current climate? Frequent reference is made to the percentage increases in funding since 1997 in various areas. Why does the Government not go back to 1947 or 1847 and pat itself on the back for the changes that have taken place since then? The reality is that the price of a house in 1997, an average humble domestic dwelling, was approximately one sixth of what it is today. All this fuss and bluff about the Estimates means absolutely nothing.

I do not have time to go through the Estimates in detail. In regard to energy and communications, which is my own area of responsibility, it is sufficient to appeal for divine help. A target of 100% broadband provision throughout the State has been set. Everybody on the Government side of the House is praying that will be achieved, but there is no possibility of it happening in the next several years. As the Wicklow man said, they started from the wrong spot. The longer it goes on the more ridiculous it becomes. The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is a nice guy and I am fond of him, but he has made a mess of this area.

Energy provision is currently a sore subject because we must, for a variety of reasons, reduce our dependence on imported energy. If we do not do so in the short term, we will be obliged to purchase carbon credits, which are harmful to the environment, and we will be subject to fines from the European Union. The major increase in funding in this area only points to the appalling deficiency of last year's allocation. The €10 million or €14 million proposed in the current year is entirely insufficient to meet the necessary targets in the given timeframe.

What is needed is adequate investment not only in research and development but also in assisting the fledgling industries that are trying to generate energy by way of biofuels, wind energy and so on. The proposed funding for growers — those who are involved already on their own volition — is seriously deficient. There must be a far greater injection of funding in this area.

Changes in broadcasting regulations will be handed down from the European Union in the near future and TG4 will be separated from RTE. This is an area that will require monitoring and an ability to change with the times.

Serious efforts must be made to develop our natural resources extraction industries, be it oil, gas, tin, lead or zinc. These industries must be encouraged to provide the wherewithal to process their products to the highest possible standards and be of direct benefit to the economy.

It is a pity Government Members easily delude themselves every year, admiring their own budget, saying it is marvellous. They are the only ones who do so.

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