Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

Given the potential in this area, current investment is somewhat small. In particular, I refer to the Shannon Estuary, which experiences an 8 knot tide. Such a tide could allow for the use of reversible turbines to generate electricity and it offers huge potential. Does the Minister agree research facilities in University College Cork and the University of Limerick could be expanded so that practical experiments in generating electricity from waves and tides could be carried out on a wider scale? Is he satisfied that the timetable set out in the Department's strategy for ocean energy is on target? Is he confident, for example, that the pre-commercial grid envisaged in the strategy will be in place by 2010? What direct role, if any, does he envisage the State having in operating wave and tidal generating capacity?

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