Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

My question was about how the State would benefit from our substantial resources with reference to wave, wind and tidal energy, particularly as Ireland has one third of all renewable resources in north-west Europe. Decades ago the Minister was one of the stalwarts and leading lights in the resources protection group which produced some good material about our oil and gas industries, as well as the robbery anticipated in that regard. Now we have many private companies slobbering over the opportunities to profit from our wave, wind and tidal resources. What will the Minister do to protect these resources which could be used to benefit all of the people? Last night there was a meeting in Mullingar at which farmers were asked for sites for wind turbines for Mainstream Renewable Power and other energy groups. What does the Minister have to say about this company which is headed up by former Labour Party members Brendan Halligan and Eddie O’Connor and which stands to make substantial profits, potentially tens of billions of euro, from this resource? What is the Minister doing to ensure the people will benefit from it rather than private companies?

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