Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

On that occasion Ireland said a big "No" to the concept of nuclear power but now when we are on the verge of importing further supplies of nuclear-generated electricity from the United Kingdom, it is incumbent on us to have a mature debate on future possibilities in respect of electricity generated in this way. The Minister has indicated on several occasions a willingness to open that debate, which would be helpful and welcome. We cannot run from the issue.

That is one side of the technology of electricity generation. On the other side there is generation from renewable sources and micro-generation, which was referred to by several speakers, including Senator Walsh. We must encourage and facilitate the maximum amount of domestic generation of electricity. I think in particular of farms in rural Ireland where the physical capacity exists to permit a small windmill-type process. I am not an expert in the technology but undoubtedly this capacity exists. Senator O'Toole pointed out that grant aid is available, although now somewhat reduced, for certain energy projects such as solar and geothermal generation of heat. It would be helpful, even if on a trial basis, if the Minister were to consider some type of grant aid to allow a limited number of people and households to generate their own supply of electricity. If electricity can be generated domestically and locally from environmentally friendly sources, which in most cases would be wind, that is a win-win situation. We should welcome it and try to put it in place.

The solution to our broader energy needs will not come from one source alone and the interconnector will play a significant role, possibly the major role, in years to come. There is the possibility to maximise the number of people who generate their own sources of electricity and that should be encouraged.

I know that there has been a difficulty concerning the buying back into the grid of locally generated electricity. I am not entirely up to speed on the regulations and legislation in that regard. Perhaps some progress has been made but if not, we should try to advance that part of the equation. In cases of which I was made aware, a number of people were put off from considering the generation of their own electricity.

My comments are more broad than they are deep but I welcome the legislation and look forward to progress being made by EirGrid. I appeal again to the Minister to scrutinise the issue of energy conservation in a fresh way and also to look at possibilities for local and domestically generated sources of power. Our country is surrounded by waves of a substantial nature and it appears that we are blown away by winds almost every second day. There must be many answers to our energy problems right here and these must be harvested to the maximum extent.