Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Is the Minister not surprised that this Europe, with its Lisbon agenda of being a most efficient and forward-thinking Europe, is totally inefficient at its heart? The Minister might inform the House when the application was lodged and how long we have been waiting because it is important that this matter be put on the record.

I am surprised at the relaxed attitude here. I understand there is 1,000 MG of power ready to be commissioned if REFIT is approved which would create a lot of employment and, as the Minister stated, would ensure a huge amount of energy substitution from fossil fuels. Was the energy Commissioner concerned that we are not achieving our Kyoto protocol commitments because the Commission is holding up the whole process? What did the energy Commissioner say to the Minister as a justification for his colleague not getting on with the job and delivering these approvals in good time so that we can save the planet?

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