Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the firemen and women in the Public Gallery. They came up here today from all around the country. I met with some of the lads from Foynes and from Kilmallock who came up to represent Limerick.

We are here to talk about Science Week and science. The only way we can move forward with climate change is to merge first-hand experience with academia. One learns from experience and the other learns from theory. Each has huge merits and I respect both. When it comes to climate change and science, however, what is the one thing that is standing in the way of future proofing Ireland in the likes of energy costs? It is not science. It is legislation. As much as our people are working within science, experience and theory in Ireland and around the world, the only thing stopping the people of Limerick and Ireland from having good and affordable energy is legislation; it is not science. The science is there but the legislation is outdated and flawed. This topic will be discussed under a Private Members' motion tomorrow. I hope there will be plenty of people here to debate this during Private Members' Business, which will bring in the science and the legislation that is stopping the science.

Incidentally, the theme of this year's Science Week is "The Wonders of Science: Infinite Possibilities". We are looking for infinite possibilities from our students around the country who are going to second level and third level education. We are looking to them for answers into the future, but our Government needs to wake up and recognise that legislation is stopping our future.

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