John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I commend the leader on arranging at such short notice the attendance in the House of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and ask that our meeting with her be re-arranged. In light of the developing situation in the World Trade Organisation negotiations and the possibility of a reduction in food production in Europe at a time when we need to substantially increase production in the short term to alleviate world conditions, it is timely that we put our case to the Minister.

I ask that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources request the European Council of Ministers to consider the west coast as a location for green energy. There is ample space there to produce alternative supplies to our exclusive dependence on imports into the EU. These supplies would be a back-up but EU input would be essential.