Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Cabinet sub-committees comprise an integral part of the Cabinet process and questions about the business conducted at Cabinet or Cabinet sub-committee meetings have never been allowed in the House on the grounds that it is internal to the Government. The reasons for this approach, as the Deputy knows, are founded on sound policy principles and the need to avoid infringing the constitutional protection of Cabinet confidentiality. Questions relating to particular policy issues should be directed to the relevant Minister.

To be helpful to Deputy Kenny, I can only say that all major issues applying to the climate change agenda have been discussed at various times in respect of the nine meetings held since 7 August. The question of energy security has been dealt with in the context of the implementation of the White Paper on energy, brought forward by the former Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and subsequently implemented by the current Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan. There is a commitment to increasing the wind energy component of our national energy grid to the tune of 30% by 2020. Considerable work on the matter is ongoing. The volatility of oil prices and the difficulties we are having in bringing onshore a very substantial national asset off the coast of Deputy Kenny's constituency further emphasise the need for the energy security agenda to be supported by every Member of the House.

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