Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

Listening to Deputy Coveney comparing infrastructure construction times in this country and others, I was reminded that the stretch of road between Bray and Greystones in Wicklow took nearly as long to build as the road bridge between Denmark and Sweden.

This enabling Bill is not controversial and one we in the Labour Party are happy to support. Some issues arise from it, however, which we want addressed. The growth in our population and in energy use requires investment in the energy infrastructure that has in the past experienced under-investment. The margin of cover between demand and supply is so narrow, fears have been expressed about outages resulting during winter months. Over the next 20 years demand is estimated to grow by 70% to 80% which will require the connection of 7,000 MW of new generation plant to the network.

Creating an all-Ireland market was a significant step forward, ensuring security of supply and greater efficiencies. Paying tribute to those working in EirGrid and their counterparts in Northern Ireland is worthwhile as the all-Ireland market they succeeded in creating has been working ever since. Building interconnectors between Ireland, Britain and, if necessary, beyond is the next logical step and is a welcome development. It would offer us the facility to buy additional electricity from abroad and to sell excess electricity. In doing so, we could fully exploit our natural resources, in particular wind energy. This development would ensure energy security, a significant current issue.

Were the Minister consistent in his approach, it would be helpful. It is regrettable that, for example, he has obfuscated on the issue of nuclear power. The Minister has no intention of pursuing the nuclear power option. His call for a debate on the issue is an evasive technique, a smokescreen. Having called for the debate, he refuses to initiate it and ducks the matter when it is raised. Were the Minister's open approach a genuine one, he would initiate the debate rather than try to offload it on to an Oireachtas committee. Were he honest on this issue, he would first lift the statutory prohibition on the building of nuclear power stations in Ireland. It is illegal to build a nuclear station in Ireland. Were the Minister genuine in his call for a debate, he would present the case in the Dáil for legalising nuclear power and proceed to debate the question of whether we should avail of that option.

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