Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I hope that we will return to a fuller debate on this topic in the near future. It would be preferable if the debate was to adjourn rather than conclude but that is the order of business as agreed this morning.

I welcome the opportunity to speak and I congratulate all those involved in the publication of this report, including my party colleague, Deputy Seán Barrett. It is very much an all-party consensus in so far as far as an analysis of the problem is concerned. When we seek solutions I imagine there will be some political difference.

The one word of caution I would speak at this stage is that in the new economic dispensation and the so-called more difficult times it becomes more problematic to sell environmental concerns and the need for constraint in this area, and to find new ideas and new programmes. Two years ago, when the Celtic tiger era appeared to be booming, most people took on environmental concerns almost as part of a guilt trip. They felt somewhat confused about being so well off while they also decided to become concerned about the environment. It was very welcome that they did so, notwithstanding the reason. Now, however, with the State's finances in a more perilous position, people will look more to their own finances rather than to the State and to the environment. We should be a little concerned about this and must keep environmental concerns at the top of the political and economic agenda.

Senator Fiona O'Malley raised the topic of agriculture and I got the impression she believes that if the whole country were planted with forestry all our problems would be solved. If only it were so. I recognise that forestry has a role to play and the Irish target for forestry growth is not as advanced as it should be. There is an onus on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith to look at the grant schemes for forestry. Perhaps it is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, however, because that Department is always moving. It is disappointing that we have one of the lowest achievable rates of growth in Europe.

I have a number of constituents who are investigating the possibility of erecting their own micro-turbines in order to power their farms. There is an ongoing difficulty in regard to linking up with the ESB grid. It should be entirely possible to resolve this and it might make a small difference. All these steps will not make a big difference on their own but put together they are part of the domestic jigsaw.

Senator Hannigan spoke about the consumption rates of electricity in this country versus those in Britain and Europe. We should debate this matter in detail because there is no reason why the average Irish household should use so much more electricity than its average British counterpart.

I am sorry that in my short contribution I could neither analyse nor solve the problem but I hope we will return to debate this matter in the near future.