Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I would like to believe the Cabinet sub-committee would have considered or would consider in its deliberations, which it will not make public, the fact that our costs are 50% above the European average. This needs to be addressed. I hope the sub-committee has considered the creation of a permit system for wind farms because at the present rate of dealing with these it will be 20 years before applicants get through the queue gate that is installed. Where there is community good will, with community leaders and people who want to set up wind farms and either have permission or are very likely to get it, there is no possibility of their being connected to the grid system in under 20 years given the current state of processing. That is not as it should be if the big picture is the achievement of energy independence inside ten to 15 years.

The Cabinet sub-committee should have a real interest in this. The Taoiseach might like to refer to that.

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