Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I like the way the Minister of State has linked enterprise, energy and the environment together. That would make for an excellent new Department.

The energy sector is one of the major growth areas. When one looks back at our industrial history, one can see how successful the IDA was in attracting new industries to this country. I saw a very interesting television programme recently on the thoroughbred industry in this country. Ireland is a world leader in this area because it took certain fiscal measures, which is a great credit to us. The programme on the thoroughbred industry was very enlightening and I can only hope we can replicate that success in the green energy and technology areas. I acknowledge that this Government is already well under way, but merging energy, enterprise and environment into one Department is a fantastic idea, particularly given the fact that there is tremendous scope for enterprise in the energy sector.

Previous speakers have already referred to research and development opportunities in the environmental goods and services area. Some of the opportunities are legendary. However, I am a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. Frequently people appear before that committee and tell us they face hurdle after hurdle in terms of delivering their enterprises or research and development opportunities. It is deeply frustrating for committee members to hear this. Surely, as politicians, we should be facilitating the path to prosperity and opportunity. We must always remember that research and development is also about failure. Not every single project will be a success. However, if we do not take a risk on some of the opportunities presented, how will we ever learn anything?

The Minister of State referred to Science Foundation Ireland. While I welcome some of the changes that have taken place in that organisation, I would like to see much more of an IDA-type bend to it. Often the scope and scale of the grants from SFI are too small, which is a problem. Green technology is cutting edge and requires larger grants such as those provided by the IDA for major projects. I would be pleased to see such a development, because we are somewhat timid in advancing industry in this area. I have taken an interest in this area for the past seven or eight years and this is the main point I wish to highlight. Undoubtedly we have made significant progress and the Government has responded very well to initiatives during that time. However, there is more we could do.

I refer to foreshore licences. I am certain the Minister of State is aware of the issues, although he comes from an inland constituency so he may not be quite so pestered on the matter. The relevant committee hears from people on the matter all the time. There is a commitment to change the law relating to the granting of foreshore licences, but it has not happened. Significant investment is at risk of being delayed and I have heard a figure of up to €8 billion mentioned in that regard. We cannot afford to lose such investment. We must facilitate investment by streamlining the process of granting foreshore licences. Responsibility for granting licences lies with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, although it will soon move elsewhere. A group from the Department visited the committee last week. I was disappointed to sense a lack of urgency in making this change. Some members of the committee made the point that this may be a reaction to decentralisation. When responsibilities change from one Department to another there can be reluctance and resistance. This is precisely why we need a dynamic public service that will facilitate progress, prosperity and development. Nothing should stand in the way of this potential development.

The Government could improve its procurement policies and perhaps the Minister of State has experience of this. When a contract in a Department for computer services is put out to tender, frequently the cost of the project is the principal criterion. Will the Minister of State examine this practice? The least cost submission is not necessarily the cheapest in the long term and energy efficiency is not rated highly enough in procurement process matrix. Could this somehow be revised so that an added weighting could be assigned to energy efficiency? It may well be more efficient to make such a change over the lifetime of the use of the computer system. An energy efficient item may be more expensive on day one, but over the lifetime this may not be the case. We are now more acutely aware of the effects of carbon emissions and our carbon footprint and we must take cognisance of this. These costs must be factored in and I am not certain that is the case at present, but we must examine the possibility. Will the Minister of State ensure the question of energy efficiency is raised at whatever meetings he attends dealing with public procurement contracts?

I commend the motion to the House. This is a very significant growth area for the country and it is where our new opportunities lie. I hope the Government will do everything it can to ensure these new opportunities are delivered and facilitated.