Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Crucially, we need to recognise that sustainability is social sustainability and not only environmental and economic sustainability. We will achieve consensus best when we bring all our society along with us and when we set our planning on the basis that it is not only pro-enterprise but includes the weakest in every section of our society on this new path that we have to take.

I am confident that we have the right policies within our grasp, policies which are agreed on all sides of this House. I do not hear Members opposite arguing against me when I say that developments of renewables and energy efficiency are the best way for us to tackle the energy storm we are entering into. Nor do I hear anyone on the opposite side of the House disagree with the hypothesis that a new digital services economy and our expertise in ICT can give us the facility to develop our economic opportunities. I do not believe there is any disagreement on that fundamental point. The key job in my Department is to organise a fossil fuel retreat and the advance of a new digital economy.

I want to give the Irish people a certain confidence that the policies are within our grasp. One can read reports in the newspapers about the Gate 3 process on the development of wind energy; some 3,000 MW of electricity will be generated on top of the 1,500 MW that will be generated as we proceed with the Gate 2 process. This process will generate large volumes of power and the fuel price will be zero and will remain zero regardless of what happens on internal markets.

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