Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I understand that there are literally hundreds of millions of euro backed up, in investment potential for alternative energy and for renewable energy. The central problem is the capacity of the grid to deal with this. Regardless of who is in government, we will continue to lag behind over the next 20 years if that central issue is not resolved. I am aware that EirGrid has laid out its programme for the next five or ten years. Overseas investors who have serious money behind them want to invest in a country that they consider to clearly have the potential for renewable energy. Although their money is ready to move, there is no capacity for them to get an offer to join the grid for five, six or ten years to come. That is not the way it should be. I recommend that the Taoiseach look at the grid, which is the central problem for the entire country. Despite EirGrid's proposals, the extent of investment waiting to come on stream, with the consequent potential for thousands of jobs, is being seriously delayed if not lost altogether. I suggest that the Government should really focus on such investment, which holds enormous potential in terms of employment. As a consequence of it, our infrastructure would improve and the country would become more attractive to internal and national investment.

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