Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State for his references to the forum and to me personally, for which I am very grateful.

The youth forum held in Dublin and Cork was very successful and it will be held shortly in Galway. A very successful schools competition was held for transition year students and it was attended by the Minister for Education and Science last Monday. On the previous Monday the forum heard submissions.

The forum does not claim any monopoly on this discussion as the more widespread the discussion is and the more bodies involved, the better and this is acknowledged by the Minister of State.

What I say in the rest of my contribution has nothing to do with the forum and it will not take any responsibility for it. In my opinion we should not be so categorical and dismissive of nuclear energy forever and a day. It could well be less environmentally destructive than the continued use of fossil fuels, particularly with regard to global warming. Countries like France seem to manage quite well by having a sizeable amount of nuclear production. We should be pressing for cleaner nuclear energy. Whether or not we dismiss nuclear energy, but in particular if we do, we need to invest far more effort into the provision of alternatives such as wind and wave energy and biomass. There is now the possibility of producing diesel oil from rapeseed and a whole series of crops. With regard to the potential of producing energy from wind and wave, a good North-South project would be to harness the tidal race in Strangford Lough, near to my home, which produces a tide of four to eight knots, twice a day. This has been crying out for years to be harnessed as an energy source.

I commend the Taoiseach on raising the matter of roaming charges for cell phones. Senator McHugh and I are the people in this House who are most affected. Every time I leave Newry it costs me a fortune. It is very difficult for people who must cross the Border.

I look forward to the amended services directorate. It has established the role of the Parliament in a way that was envisaged in the constitution, which is positive. Commissioner McCreevy has told the forum to have an opt-out as a sort of workable document. I hope that can be a template for the future.

I wish the Minister of State well in his discussions with the states due for accession under the next round of enlargement. I congratulate him, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach on the effort that has been put into this issue and the general competence with which they represent Ireland's interests, and their concern for a wider European vision.