Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

Last week the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources presented a comprehensive document on energy, the first of its kind produced. It took a considerable period of time and the committee met all the people involved in energy over 18 days. That document is extremely important. Energy is the most important issue we will have to deal with in the near future. Over 90% of our energy comes from fossil fuel, a volatile resource.

The document includes components on wind energy, which we want to increase to 21%. Despite the regulator's reassurance that we will achieve our objective of having 13% of our electricity derived from renewable sources by 2007-08, on the ground I found many impediments to wind energy promoters. I am not sure we have our act together. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister to have a comprehensive debate in this House on that report?