Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before the last general election, the Government of the day was well committed to the alternative energy programme. Those of us who were committed to it spent countless meetings defending our positions on platform after platform. We were bushwhacked by the Opposition at the time. There is not much sense in the Opposition coming along now and saying there has been insufficient progress. In fact, they impeded the progress. They shut it down at every opportunity. There are three ways alternative energy can be effectively and efficiently provided in this country. I should mention as well, incidentally, that wood is neutral is so far as carbon is concerned.

It is carbon neutral and only exudes the amount of carbon that it absorbed in the first place, no more or less. One grows a tree to replace a tree and one contributes nothing to the carbons.

Wind energy is the most efficient, effective and reliable way to generate electricity. It is as simple as that and the sooner we recognise that, the better. I tried to point this out to people all over the country for the past four or five years and no one wanted to listen. When will people listen? They will do so when the fines come down the track because fines will be effective. People told me in the past that we would not pay any fines but that is a matter beyond our control.

Solar panels can be installed effectively on marginal land. A grid is needed to allow suppliers of electricity to link into it because wind does not blow in the same place all the time. It may not be blowing in one place but it will be blowing five, ten or 100 miles away. The grid must be sufficient to ensure continuity of supply.

We need, as a matter of urgency, to concentrate on developing eco-friendly generation of electricity. In addition to solar and wind power, another option is hydro-generation. We are limited in what we can do in this area unless we flood valleys and so on.

It is critical to remember that we do not need to be pessimistic. However, we will need to be pessimistic if we continue to engage in obstruction every time we get a chance to provide an alternative. We either have one or the other as otherwise we will have to put up with the consequences.

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