Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Go raibh maith agat. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir Paddy Burke a thug cead dom, agus am dom, labhairt ar seo.

I support the amendment which points out the shortcomings in the Government's strategy to address the issue of climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are heavily dependent on imported oil and gas. While there is a European requirement that bio-fuel replaces 5.75% of petrol imports by 2010, the Government has set even more ambitious targets. While I welcome this, I do not believe the necessary measures are being taken to ensure that the target will be met. This could simply mean that dependency on imported fossil fuels is replaced by dependency on imported bio-fuels.

We must build our own strategic indigenous fuel production. That is the reason Sinn Féin has argued not only for the need to promote the growing of energy crops, for which this country is eminently suited, but also for the former sugar factories in Carlow and Mallow to be converted to producing a thick syrup from sugar beet for ethanol production. To build such plants from scratch would cost many millions of euro and there are doubts about the viability of building new plants in the immediate future.

Sinn Féin supports the extension of fiscal incentives for energy crop grants to encourage the development of an indigenous bio-fuels sector. We also support the development of other renewable energy sources such as wind, wave and solar power, which have considerable potential to be expanded and to increase the share of energy demand that is met from those sources. There is also a need to promote greater energy efficiency in domestic and commercial buildings. Those responsible for the Oireachtas buildings are becoming more proactive on this.

However, I am not satisfied that EU legislation regarding building insulation is adequate. For that reason, Sinn Féin has called for the inclusion of all those in receipt of fuel allowances in the greener homes and insulation grant schemes. While this will involve a considerable initial outlay, it will be cost effective in reducing energy loss, cutting fuel bills and tackling fuel poverty.

As outlined in the amendment, it is important that the national spatial strategy is revised to take into account the need to ensure that renewable energy infrastructure is built. We must also ensure there is annual reporting to track progress in meeting targets for the reduction of emissions. Only in that way can the shortfalls be addressed and action taken to ensure the targets are met and, if possible, exceeded.

Later this month, Donegal County Council will receive a number of lights being imported into Ireland. For the first time, public lighting will be lit, on a pilot basis, by solar panels. Initiatives such as these must be promoted and the technology and research involved must be developed. Incentives should be given to progress that technology.

Government Senators have commented that people should be encouraged to use public transport, with which I concur. However, the Government must provide the public transport. When I became a Member of the Seanad and met some of the Members on the Government benches, they asked me how I intended to make the four and a half hour trip to the Seanad every day and whether I took the train. There is no train service from Donegal, or from Cavan, Monaghan, Tyrone or Fermanagh. If the Government is serious about climate change, it must start investing in public transport. That means not just train services but also rural public transport. Everybody could then collectively take ownership of and responsibility for reducing carbon emissions.