Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I share Deputy Bannon's ambition and thank him for sharing time.

While we are in challenging times in terms of energy supply, we are also in exciting times. I am heartened by what I have heard recently in regard to alternatives. While we often fail in this House to be magnanimous as regards people on the Government side, I would like to recognise the overall approach of the Minister for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan to energy development and his accessibility to those of us with ideas in this area.

I am particularly heartened by the fact that a group from the Silicon Valley is visiting Ireland and is to hold a major seminar in Trinity College. The group met earlier with the President and will meet later this evening with the Taoiseach who will make an address at their dinner. The group concerned is considering applying its technology to green energy given the abundance of sun in California. More and more companies are being set up to harness this advantage. Much of the noise in the Silicon Valley at the moment is in regard to green energy, alternative sources and so on. It is hoped this group will meet like-minded people and the Minister while here. One man has a major project for the Shannon Estuary and will attend the announcement to be made tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Government Buildings. It is hoped something good will come out of this initiative.

County Kerry has many options to offer be it wave, tidal or wind energy. This is one area where we can make considerable progress. I was heartened to read last Thursday the announcement by the Commission for Energy Regulation that it is proposing to facilitate a further 3,900 MW of renewal power to the national grid by 2020, which is a long time away. It is hoped that deadline can be brought forward. However, the announcement is positive. This decision will facilitate the connection of an additional 3,900 MW of mostly wind-generated power to the electricity system and will ensure that Ireland can meet the recently announced renewable target of 40% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020. I believe this is realisable provided the will exists to do so and people can get connections to the grid. Currently there are approximately 1,300 MW of renewable power in the system. This will increase to 6,700 MW by 2020, which is to be welcomed.

I welcome the Bill. As Deputy Coveney stated, Fine Gael supports it. Bord Gáis is an exemplary, well-run, profitable company. It has always done its work right as is the case in regard to the ESB. These are State companies of which we should all be proud. This provision will enable Bord Gáis to roll out its proposed capital expenditure of more than €1.5 million over the next four years. I am heartened that €700 million of this money will be spent on the development of the gas networks and include extension of the networks to parts of the country not currently being serviced. An article in the Irish Examiner identified certain towns in County Kerry that would benefit from the roll-out. On 10 May, Bord Gáis announced it was considering 34 towns for connection to the natural gas network, including Killarney, Tralee, Listowel and Newcastle West. I ask that consideration be given to these towns in light of their dependence on the tourism industry and their significant energy needs. Gas would provide an alternative energy option for many operators. By making gas available to Kerry Group, the viability of this major Listowel based industry would be strengthened.

Shannon LNG presents the prospect of an exciting development for the Shannon landbank. I am aware that concerns about the development have been expressed locally but I hope these will be allayed so that the project can proceed. The terminal has been cleared but issues remain in respect of the pipeline. If the pipeline is approved after a hearing by An Bord Pleanála in Listowel, the Shannon LNG plant can be connected to the national grid at Aughinis in Askeaton. It would offer another means of improving supply in this country, thereby making us less vulnerable if our existing interconnectors closed. When Shannon LNG is up and running, it will meet a large proportion of our energy needs.

Yesterday, I met representatives of Tarbert Island generating station who were on their way to meet the Spanish company that has purchased the plant from the ESB. This is a welcome development because when the ESB announced its intention to close the plant we were concerned about the future for its 127 employees. It is hoped that a large number of these jobs will be retained. The station will be upgraded and possibly converted to gas and, if Shannon LNG is in operation one mile downstream from the station, supplies will be readily available.

I am aware that the development of wind energy is not a simple process. However it is important in the national interest to give hope to people such as the investor from the Silicon Valley who has the money and a project ready to roll out but cannot proceed without access to the grid.

The country faces major economic challenges but these are exciting times in the area of energy because we are being forced to consider alternatives to oil. We are all in this together and, when it comes to renewables, I welcome that the Government is listening to Members on this side of the House, and particularly those of us who are involved in significant renewable projects.

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