John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I do not share his acceptance of nuclear energy. We must examine every other renewable energy option. The Government has taken tentative steps towards examining those options but it has not done enough. The two principal issues are the cost of energy and the problem of supply into the future. If we cannot resolve those two problems, consumers will continue to find their ESB and gas bills increasing. Businesses will suffer an even greater competitive disadvantage than at present in terms of our energy costs vis-À-vis some of our neighbours. We need to tackle this issue.

Renewal energy is a win-win situation. From the consumer's point of view, it provides the possibility of some stability in fuel supply and fuel price into the future. From an environmental point of view, the reduction in our reliance on fossil fuels has obvious benefits. There are also benefits for producers, on which Senator Browne touched. I do not need to tell the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, of the difficulties in farming at present. This is an alternative enterprise for farmers in the aftermath of the destruction of the sugar beet industry by this Government. This alternative enterprise could be viably developed and expanded into the future and it should be done as soon as possible.

I also welcome the Government's announcement of the green energy grants for the installation of pellet burners, solar panels and renewal energy appliances in homes. It is a step in the right direction. On the Order of Business this morning, a number of Senators raised the issue of wind energy. They referred to planning problems in different parts of the country but that is not the problem in my area. In my parish, approximately two fields from where I live, a wind farm with five turbines has been granted planning permission. A quarter of a mile away another small wind farm with three turbines has been granted permission. Those permissions have existed for over two years and neither wind farm has been constructed because the ESB continues to place every possible obstacle in the way of the developers. Unlike some, I have no problems with wind farms. They look well and if they are correctly situated in the landscape they blend in well and are an excellent, readily available renewable source of energy.

I urge the Minister of State and the Government to do what they can to ensure that the ESB is not allowed to monopolise the electricity supply situation particularly with regard to wind energy and that the obstacle is removed at the earliest possible opportunity. The ESB does not wish to face any significant competition from other suppliers in the wind energy sector. That is why people have a problem connecting to the grid.