Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The Minister has indicated he will give me a minute of his time; I thank him for that. The biggest issues we are facing currently are eco-environmental issues. They were raised over the weekend by the Green Party but we are aware of them. They are issues of dependency on oil and the problem of waste and wasted energy. I end my contribution with this thought. I did some research on this area and looked at west Kerry as an example. The energy needs of all of west Kerry could be catered for with three 1.5 MW output wind generators. They would cater for everything and put something into the grid. Similarly, west Kerry could deal with all its waste. If any community is prepared to look after all its waste and energy needs and feed more back into the grid, those communities should get some reward in the form of a tax break for doing so. It is an opportunity to do something creative and progressive. All politics is local, as the Minister and I know, and every time there is a proposal, whether it is for an incinerator, a wind energy project or whatever, an objection is made but let people buy into this idea. Give them control and responsibility for their own environment and let us look at doing something creative. I ask the Minister to consider that for next year's budget.

The energy regulator has refused to accept for the next two years any more applications for alternative energy connections to the national grid. Rational reasons were given for this decision, although it sounds irrational. I understand the reasons and agree with some, but not all, of them. However, this is not the way forward and we should take steps in this respect. Significant advances in micro-generation have been made. When I was first elected to this House, everyone, including me, thought that we had more or less reached the limit in terms of hydroelectric energy. Now, with the advances in micro-generators, that is no longer the case and smaller rivers and areas can also be developed. However, this would probably require a tax break.

I regard the Minister's proposals to lift excise duties on various forms of biofuels to be positive and progressive. I have spoken to people involved in the industry to inquire why more people and farmers have not become involved in it. The explanation was simple and pertained to a lack of certainty. People require a fixed timescale and someone must state that it is planned to hold the excise duties in this fashion for the next ten years, in order that people can enter the industry at agricultural, supply and product levels.

While I would like to discuss some other issues, I cannot do so. I welcome the Finance Bill and applaud the Minister for many of the advances he has made. I also look forward to hearing his next budget. I ask him to take on board some of the issues I have raised.