Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I wish to share time with Deputies Cuffe, Thomas Byrne, White and Sargent.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Private Members' motion dealing with the crucial issue of the development of our new and modern economic infrastructure for the 21st century. The motion is set around Fine Gael's NewERA document published some weeks ago.

To summarise my response to it, the good elements are being addressed by the Government. However, I find some of the proposals shocking and flawed and they would do real damage to the development of the country and the development of our economic infrastructure. I will set out some of the reasons for my analysis. We agree on the principles that investment in our telecommunications and energy infrastructure in particular will provide the economic opportunities and all recovery to occur. This is happening already.

I attended the energy show today in the RDS where the numbers of stands has increased by 20%. People there are saying they are busy and that new jobs are being created. The Irish Wind Energy Association has seen membership increase by 50% in the past year. There is real progress in both the large and small companies.

I refer to investment by the State. The ESB has set out €22 billion in a strategic plan and this is delivering the change which Fine Gael recommends. We are ahead of the curve in the implementation of smart meters compared to other countries——

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