Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I have had my head in my hands on a number of occasions because I am dismayed by the lack of action on the issues that are obvious to everybody.

There is no area with more myths associated with it than the energy sector. Everybody has an opinion and everybody knows what should happen. The industrialised United Kingdom contributes about 2% of the total of carbon emissions and many other emissions as a consequence. The UK relies heavily on nuclear energy. I do not accept that nuclear energy is an option in this country at this time. It would well be a cheap way of escaping from reality but it would not change one iota of what we need to do other than in the generation of electricity.

Countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Finland, are generally held up as sterling examples of how to go about dealing with the question of emissions. I acknowledge they have done well but they have found it very easy because of their geographic location to promote the alternatives such as hydro and nuclear power.

I was amazed to hear some months ago that Sweden proposed to go oil free in 15 years. When I heard this I wondered when their general election was going to be held. I was not too far wrong because the election was held quite soon afterwards. I discovered that 15 years ago, Sweden had stated it would be nuclear free in 15 years and this has not happened yet, nor is it likely to be in the foreseeable future.

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