Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is clear that a low carbon economy can be very competitive. The national climate change strategy was, in reality, a wish list without any real ownership or management concerning how targets would be achieved. Although we were close to meeting these targets last year this was because of imploding economic circumstances which brought these targets more sharply into focus.

There is no international agreement and despite the importance of energy security for our State we are a long way behind in wind provision. We need to increase what we have by 300% to be anywhere near the targets we set ourselves. If energy security is of such critical importance - and it is because we import €6 billions worth of fossil fuels every year - has the Taoiseach looked at the strategy that was adopted under the national climate change strategy? Has he given instructions to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, or whomsoever else it may concern such as the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources - I get the names of Departments mixed up as there are so many of them - to set out our own enhanced strategy irrespective of international agreements in order to move towards energy security which is of such importance for everybody and for every business in the country? Has the Taoiseach motivated these people to take action? The grid offers a recipe for much optimism.

See this speech in context