Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, to the House. It is appropriate that he is here because alternative energy is closely associated with the use of agricultural land to produce fuel. At the Fianna Fáil seminar in Westport this summer, an eminent expert in this field said that as long as the sun shines, we will be able to produce sufficient energy to sustain the economy. All energy, whether oil, gas, turf or coal, originally came from the energy produced by the sun. It was encouraging to consider the various options for energy production.

The policy brought forward by the Government is worthwhile in terms of planning for the future. Bord na Móna also has an important role to play by making use of the extensive resources contained in our cutaway bogs. Research is being conducted with a view to situating wind farms in the middle of bogs. Elephant grass could also be grown on some cutaway bogs, as well as on the land formerly used to grow sugar beet. More research should be conducted with regard to producing tidal energy. French researchers have undertaken several successful projects in that regard and Ireland has massive potential for harnessing tidal power, especially along the west coast. I welcome the Green Paper and commend the Government on producing it.