David Norris (Independent)

I record the Minister of State's courtesy in yielding to me. I understand he had intended to come in at this point and I am very grateful to him. He may be in a position to respond to one or two of the points I will make, although I may not be here as I have a group of guests coming in. I will read the record.

I welcome this debate. In the last session I handed to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, and his assistant information about a new development of which I was made aware which concerns ignition systems in, for example, car engines. It makes the whole system much more efficient, reduces significantly the consumption of fuel and reduces gaseous emissions. This system has been investigated by a number of firms and governments in Europe. I ask the Minister to find out its status here. Apart from anything else, we could start manufacturing it if other firms are not interested. This is well worth considering as it would have a world-wide market.

I commend the Green Party on putting down this important motion. One of the things that strikes me is that not only might we save resources, energy and money but, because of the ingenuity of some of the bodies in this area — including Airtricity — which have a wonderful dynamic intellectual energy, we might well be able to export some of these inventions. Senator Coffey, who is now, I see, in the Chair, made a most interesting speech. One point I will take up is the problem regarding the recycling plants. It is not that there is an accumulation of rubbish; it is more serious and sinister than that. The plants have done their job in recycling and extracting the materials, and the processed waste is now accumulating as there is no market for it. That is interesting. I ask the Minister of State whether we have a policy or plan to deal with this situation, in which we have a positive innovation which, because of world economic conditions, is reduced in terms of practicability.

I mentioned Airtricity, which brings to mind the question of renewable energy systems, particularly wave power and wind power out in the Atlantic, around the Aran Islands and so on. The Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, Deputy Ó Cuív, was in Inis Meáin for the launch of the new environmentally sustainable harbour but also to consider the development of an integrated wind and ocean powered energy system which, he said, could make the island self-sufficient in terms of energy supply, would create jobs and boost tourism and could even provide models for improved use of natural resources for the whole island of Ireland. Having visited Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr and known their beauty and their cultural relevance, I think it would be a marvellous symbol if we invested in projects of this kind. I know that money is short at the moment, but we need to invest in projects on which we will get a good return.

I look again to another meeting, this time just last month, at which we were told we could in fact help to trigger a new economic boom by investing in this area. This came from leaders of the Irish Venture Capital Association. These are people who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are interested in reality. They are not mad inventors; they are people who are interested not just in assisting the environment, the Government and so on but also in making money. They point out that if they were to install 6,000 MW of wind energy on land and at sea, that would lead to the investment of considerable sums of money, but it would also go a significant way towards making us energy independent and would create 18,000 jobs. We are now hearing that the number of unemployed people has reached a quarter of a million for the first time in about ten years. Would not 18,000 jobs, even over a phased period, be a very remarkable achievement? It would also prevent the emission of 10.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. Thus, not only would it be environmentally friendly but it would also enable us to avoid fines of €324 million per year. There are many reasons we should consider seriously, even in this difficult period, investing in this area. It would also save us from having to import the equivalent of 6 million tonnes of coal at a cost of €671 million. The financial benefits keep stacking up. It is no longer a question of open-toed sandals and tree-hugging — all those phrases that used to be flung by the Progressive Democrats at our friends in the Green Party. It is now a matter of practicality.

Now we have the Green Party in Government and, whatever their difficulties — it cannot be easy — they are beginning to have an impact. For example, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is the Green Party Deputy, Eamon Ryan, who, at the launch of a series of initiatives by Sustainable Energy Ireland, stated:

There is significant potential for the development of a strong sustainable energy industry in Ireland. We need to create a climate where innovative ventures receive the necessary support and assistance required to help them get off the ground. This expansion of SEI's Incubator Programme provides valuable support to start-ups in the sustainable energy sector and I look forward to following the progress of the companies involved.

Then we come back to the things that are so often guyed and mocked by public commentators. In the old days it used to be people running their cars on hen dirt, cows farting in Argentina and all that kind of thing. These were actually supposed to generate methane gas and other materials, which meant they would have been a real hazard for the environment. On the subject of methane gas, housed animals excrete 43 million tonnes of manure every year. I am referring to cattle and sheep.