Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If we are to have a discussion, let us discuss all the mix. The Deputy and I know people whose houses are heated by solar energy, which does not require bright sunshine every day. Geothermal energy is expensive but appears to work exceptionally well for those who have the financial resources to avail of it. Hydro energy is an issue in a number of small places around the country.

In regard to the Deputy's reference to pumped storage as an alternative backup for wind, there are a raft of objections to this in the context of the use of fresh water or sea water to create the reservoir in the first instance. Another alternative is wind energy, inshore and offshore. These are all sectors that we have to look at. Others internationally tell us we are way behind the curve in terms of making decisions about these things, be that Denmark which is one of the principal suppliers of wind or Scotland which has made significant advances in the IT area in the context of renewable energy.

I can assure Deputies Boyd Barrett, Joe Higgins and others that we will have these discussions. They will be broad and comprehensive and the evidence required by them, in so far as it is available, will be produced in this House and at the relevant Oireachtas committees so that people will know the scale of challenges that we face and what the best decisions are in the interests of everybody.

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