Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The word is "urgency", and the other important word is "creativity". If we can bring the two together, then I think we might see some progress. According to new figures published, we are more reliant on imported energy than almost every other country in the European Union. Among the new technologies is wave technology, and wastewater is also a resource.

I accept that wind technology and wind farms are controversial. In that regard, I will go back to my favourite island, which, in 1986, had a pilot project using wind turbines with a German firm because both the ESB and the powers that be did not want to know. The project, which went on for ten years, produced wind energy which they sold in to the national grid as well. It cut down diesel consumption, but then the ESB came along with the underground cable. It is an example of where a new technology was community driven. It was community led and it was very much a community approach. There is a need to be more creative when it comes to those issues.

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