John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I support the calls for debates on both energy and competitiveness. I accept there was a debate on energy recently but there are other issues that could be usefully debated, for example, our high dependence on oil and media reports last year which indicated that there was a possibility of electricity cutbacks in some sectors. Many matters are not being examined, including the reluctance of the ESB to take on green energy — the company has refused to take on micro generators — and the issue of excise duty on energy crops. These crops are ideal for Ireland, given the employment and import substitution they could generate.

The debate on competitiveness would be useful. It could consider the need to upskill, the situation of nations that already pay themselves highly and continue to be able to do that, how and why they can do that and how to use the tax system, within EU guidelines, to upgrade and mechanise systems.