Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I want to lobby the Minister to invest more resources in wave energy. I understand that some work is ongoing in Galway. A number of sites have been identified on foot of work that was done by the University of Limerick, but the process is not moving fast enough. I direct the Minister's attention to the electricity generation possibilities offered by wave energy.

The Government and the ESB are investing hundreds of millions of euro in Moneypoint, which was mentioned at the start of the debate, to install the equipment that is needed to ensure the plant's emissions are reduced. Germany and France have been working for a number of years on clean coal technology processes to help to reduce substantially the emissions caused by the use of coal, which is in plentiful supply throughout the world. I am glad the ESB is working to reduce Moneypoint's emissions, thereby ensuring it will continue to play a major part in meeting Ireland's energy requirements. I am pleased the recent Government White Paper proposes that coal will continue to be used to generate power. The technologies which are being developed will ensure coal will continue to be an important commodity. As there is such a large global supply of coal, it is important we include it in energy policy for the years ahead. I am happy to support Moneypoint, which I hope will continue to generate electricity for many years to come.