Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

The Minister's response is disappointing and seems to contain contradictions with the Labour Party's energy revolution policy proposal. In opposition, the Labour Party had identified the enormous potential of wind and wave power on environmental grounds and in terms of job creation. Some 20,000 jobs in ocean energy, 10,700 jobs in wind energy and 7,000 jobs in construction were talked about three years ago. The basis of the Minister's answer dampens the potential of this area. The question asked whether the Department had carried out a cost benefit analysis and I must pose the question again. We pose the question on the day the National Competitiveness Council scorecard came out and rated Ireland's performance as abysmal in terms of environmental sustainability. We are 24th out of 28 in energy from renewable sources. We have slipped two places since the last scorecard. It is just not good enough and the Government will be judged on this. Private companies are considering this. Why should they be the ones to benefit from it? The geographical conditions are unique and the semi-State sector should make this investment for all the reasons proposed by the Minister when the Labour Party was in opposition.

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