Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State and Members who contributed to the debate. By and large, most of the contributions were constructive. I was a little surprised an amendment was tabled because the objective of the motion was to generate debate on energy. One theme ran through everybody's contribution, namely, the need for incentives to encourage new participants into the field of renewable energy. The Minister of State outlined what is being done at present. The clear message is that we need to do more to encourage development in renewable energy.

Some Fine Gael Members referred to costings. I am open to correction but I do not remember costings ever appearing in a Green Paper. Another Member also referred to policy. A Green Paper is not a policy document. Its purpose is to generate a consultation process which will continue for another two months, after which a White Paper will be produced.

References were made to energy cost increases. This may be a little outside the scope of what we are discussing but it is important to note that energy costs are largely guided by outside factors. We import most of our gas from the UK, which is itself a net importer of gas. At this stage 90% of our energy requirements is imported.

We are exposed to an increasing number of challenges. The Irish Wind Energy Association has outlined that Ireland is facing faster energy growth than other EU countries due to the growth in population, economic output from the industrial and agricultural sectors and dependence on fossil fuels. As a result, Ireland faces a rise in greenhouse gas emissions beyond the EU agreed limit of 13%.

The Green Paper does not fail to address Ireland's key energy challenges. The same study to which Fine Gael Members referred, that of Friends of the Earth Europe, identified some of the key energy challenges. One challenge is to reduce emissions in industry. The Green Paper proposes how Ireland will contribute to the national climate change strategy. A ministerial task force on bio-energy is to be established. The national bio-energy plan will be finalised and an all-Ireland research and development programme will be developed to increase efficiency and thereby to reduce energy costs from pollution.

It is also outlined in the Green Paper that an action plan is to be developed on energy efficiency, that gas and electricity supply will be secured and that competiveness is to be increased. To increase the rate of renewable energy, the Green Paper outlines the efforts to be made in research and development of bio-energy. The Green Paper policy would reduce our reliance on imported fuels and drive down the cost of energy by, for example, developing an all-Ireland energy market and opening up the market, diversifying gas sources and setting up the national oil reserve agency.

The Government is setting objectives to increase the conversion of bio-fuels in public transport. In April 2005 a scheme of excise reliefs on bio-fuel projects was announced by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Finance. Pilot projects proposed as part of Transport 21 will complement this strategy. The Government welcomes suggestions to improve the paper on sustainable energies such as some of those made by Fine Gael. It is clear that through discussing the policies outlined in this paper, Ireland's national energy landscape can be transformed.

The Green Paper proposes to secure and control energy in Ireland through sustainability, competitiveness and supply. Consequently, this would help us meet the targeted greenhouse gas emissions level and put Ireland on the international map in terms of its efforts against global warming. I look forward to future discussions in the House on this matter. I thank everybody who contributed to the debate. I commend the motion to the House.