Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

My question relates to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. Does the Taoiseach receive reports or a copy of the minutes from the committee I chair, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security? This committee has met 37 times since it was established in November 2007, but we have received very little feedback from the Cabinet sub-committee. The Oireachtas committee is unique in that it is an all-party committee that endeavours to operate on an all-party basis at all times. The committee includes members from all parties in the Dáil and Seanad and includes Independent Members.

The work of the Oireachtas committee will only be successful if there is co-operation between the Government and the committee. One of our major initiatives was to prepare legislation on an all-party basis to fill a void that existed in the energy area - the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Bill. We were told by those who made submissions to us there was a possibility of a €16 billion investment in this area. However, apart from an acknowledgment from the Taoiseach, as chairperson of the sub-committee, we did not even receive the courtesy of a note from the sub-committee commenting on the legislation.

I wonder whether we are wasting time on the Oireachtas committee or whether it was only established as a front to placate the Green Party. I and my colleagues could have done a lot more with our time than waste it attending 37 meetings since November 2007 without the co-operation of the Government. Ireland could become a net exporter of energy in the foreseeable future if we had investment into the European supergrid following upgrading of our grid. Our committee is not a Mickey Mouse one that meets to keep us all amused. We are talking about jobs, significant investment, including inward investment into the country in the future, and the replacement of massive quantities of imports. Currently we import 90% fossil fuels to produce our energy.

Are we really wasting our time on this committee or is a serious effort being made to deal with this matter? We have endeavoured to do our part. I have the great honour of chairing this committee and am very fortunate to have many committed members, some of whom are present here. Can we have greater co-operation between us and the Cabinet sub-committee? Should we scrap our papers on the Private Members' Bill we have prepared and leave it to individual parties to use Private Members' time to deal with the issue? Is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources really serious about dealing with this issue? I would like to know this so I can report back to the committee at its next meeting, tomorrow.

Are we serious about dealing with offshore wind and wave energy or not? There are no structures in place here currently to allow the development of that industry. There is no planning structure in place, yet we are told there is some €16 billion of potential investment waiting to be put into the sector.

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