Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We must concentrate our efforts on reducing competitive costs and increasing exports by availing of new market opportunities.

In preparing for the 2020 strategy, we should consider what structure the Joint Committee on European Affairs should take. The Government also needs to address the problem that faces the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny in regard to the lack of storage space for material coming from Europe. When legislation comes from the EU, we will be notified nine weeks in advance and we will need to get our act together if we are to be able to call officials before they go to Brussels and assess what they are going to say. This will be important given the consequences directives have on various sectors of Irish society. A river of European legislation has flowed here without proper scrutiny because we have lacked capacity, despite the fact that officials have to give their consent in Brussels before directives are passed. I am aware the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European affairs has an interest in addressing this issue.

The target set by the Union of a 20% reduction in emissions by 2020, to be increased to 30% if other nations agreed, will not now be met. This still leaves us with a unique opportunity. If somebody told the Taoiseach that an oil well with vast potential was discovered in County Offaly, he would want it to be exploited for the benefit of the economy and our people. However, we have not adequately tapped into the equally vast potential that blows along our north and west coasts on a daily basis.

We have not addressed the issue of European funds available in the context of Community support for major projects. In order to deal with the grid system, for example, we must have Community approval for the high tension lines that will be required in many areas. Otherwise, no matter how much we talk about it, it will not work if we cannot plug it in. That is a significant problem which we are all concerned to tackle. The December meeting was important and the Spring Council will be equally important. We will be pleased to support the Minister in any way we can at European level, through our involvement in the European People's Party, to ensure those structures are in place for the future.

See this speech in context