Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

That begs the question of the importance of public representatives not supporting those who would seek to delay the necessary infrastructure from being put in place. This takes place up and down the country in communities. Public representatives look at the parochial picture and see an opportunity to give succour to the argument that we should not have overhead pylons throughout the country to provide the necessary grid infrastructure or the capacity to provide the economic and social development that people need. At the same time the Deputy tries to make the case from a strategic point of view as to why it is imperative that investment should proceed. We must see consistency at all levels in the political system such that the wider common good will prevail.

In fairness to people many years ago when there was very little in the country and rural electrification came, everyone got up and decided it was progress and that they had to get on with it. People saw the benefit in terms of employment and the future potential of their area. We have a situation now where there are parts of the country which seem to indicate they are not prepared to look at the wider common good and the imperative of providing for the modernisation of our transmission system, but that must happen. We see it in the north west and various parts of the country where it is vital that investment takes place such that there is sufficient capacity to attract investment. The disadvantage under which people operate at the moment is precisely because in many cases political support is being offered to those who wish to not only modify but stop the prospect of the development of this transmission system. We must all stand up and be counted in this respect. There is more than talk taking place. Investments are being made and we are on track to reach renewable energy targets. I recall that ten or 15 years ago if a country were to say it would have more than 5% or 6% of renewable energy in its system by 2020 that would be regarded as very ambitious. We are talking now about 40%. There are new guaranteed support prices for offshore, wind, ocean energy and biomass-combined heating power arrangements.

I take the point that it can be a matter of great frustration to try to promote investment strategies when the process in this country can be quite time consuming. People have rights to vindicate, fair enough, but that takes a great deal of time and lengthy processes are involved. The concept of judicial review is used in this country to a far greater extent than in most other common-law countries, let alone what happens on the Continent. We may be coming to a stage where the Oireachtas will have to consider whether there are sufficient powers in place for finality to be arrived at in these issues. I do not mind matters being discussed and everybody's point of view being taken into account but ultimately a process must have finality, conclusions must be reached, decisions taken and action implemented. One sees a continuous level of agitation and discourse and a matter is deferred, or people organise to ensure it is deferred or not proceeded with by putting in place every impediment they can think of or comprehend. These are issues on which we must all reflect.

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