Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I welcome the chance to take part in this serious debate on climate change which is not a local but a global issue. I take on board what the previous Deputy said, speaking from the perspective of the Green Party. However, global warming and environmental issues must be addressed across parties. I welcome the involvement and participation of the Green Party but the green agenda on climate change is a global issue and is not the reserve of one party. I am sure the Deputy agrees that within the ranks of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and other parties this subject is high on the agenda. That is the way it should be.

We talk about waste management and wonder what we can do in this country. Sometimes we despair because it seems we are not doing enough. I take great consolation from the following. When I was elected to the local authority in Roscommon in 1999 the issue of the regional waste management Acts was to the fore. The Irish have never been good at complying with authority. People gave up drink-driving not because they feared they would kill themselves or an innocent individual but because they feared they might lose their licence or that their insurance might be increased. It is the same with many issues. We embraced waste management and while great credit must go to local authorities and politicians who implemented it most credit is due to people who set up recycling centres and bring centres. We must take the issue further but we have come a long way.

Deputy Cuffe mentioned rezoning. This matter can be a two-edged sword. I have had my runs in with people in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. They are not elected but think they know better than the elected representatives. In my area, in Lough Key Forest Park, there was a major tourism development but people in the Department decided they knew better. We have come full circle. There was a time when big developers and builders had a major influence on planning but now faceless bureaucrats in certain Departments are implementing their own policy. All that we want in life is fairness, openness and transparency from politicians but we want the same from departmental officials. That is not a reflection on the vast number of officials who do their job. It is only a few who pursue their own agenda and they do not do so in a democratic fashion. That is a matter I wish to state for the record.

It is better to live in a house with good insulation so the heating system will be better and it will not be cold in the morning. However, a majority of people live in local authority housing that was built in the 1960s and 1970s, where the insulation is not up to scratch. These people are effectively the new poor. No matter what they do to try to heat their house, bringing in briquettes and coal and whatever, the house is never warm. We could do more concerning insulation.

We can address the matter of light bulbs. Leinster House has new bulbs which is welcome although it probably does not make much difference. When I bought my house it was fitted with candelabras which contained six or seven bulbs. I took out five of them and have only one. I know it does not look great but it serves the same purpose. We should all make the same effort. I will not say "sacrifice" because I am saving money and I believe I am saving the environment.

Concerning cars, I was at a conference some weeks ago where the talking point was hybrid cars. However, if one is making long journeys, a diesel car is probably just as good if not better for the environment. I was very enthused by the fact that a member of the Green Party had a bio-fuel car. I say this as a compliment. I believed the car was very worthwhile but we now hear that bio-fuel cars may not be as appropriate as once believed because of the role of bio-fuel crops in food shortages around the world. The Green Party member was acting in the right spirit and I was nearly thinking of obtaining a bio-fuel car myself but we need to know more about the subject and debate it further before we jump in with our two feet.

Solar and wind power projects are very necessary but the ESB has not been up-front regarding the addition of new suppliers to the grid. There is now a movement in this regard but we had to wait ten or 12 years for it. Operators with serious sums to invest obtained planning permission for alternative energy projects but these were held up by the ESB. They are now coming on stream but this should have occurred five or six years ago. There was an impasse but it should not have been allowed. Generating electricity using wind and ocean energy is very necessary and it is exciting that we can harness such energy.

There are two sides to the debate on farming. One comprises Deputies from rural constituencies who represent the farming community. Farming is a vital part of life in rural areas. On the other side there are Deputies from Dublin and other cities, whose constituencies do not include the farming community. We must be careful to strike a good balance. We must be mindful of the fact that practices deemed bad years ago are now deemed good, or vice versa. We need to debate this issue. In our mad dash we should not undermine the farming community. We can make savings in other areas, by way of carbon credits, for example. Therefore, we should not jump in with two feet.

I live on the Sligo line and it is great to see there are eight trains each day in both directions. We have engaged in a mad dash to develop road transport but more could be done to encourage rail freight such as utilising small ports. It could be beneficial to have a port in Sligo or along the west coast for the importation of goods.

Those of us who have Sky television see environmental programmes and note that species are under threat. This debate is worthwhile and welcome. We can make a difference together. I like the Power of One advertisement that claims everyone can make a difference.

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