Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit. In éineacht le Seanadóirí eile, ba mhaith liom an Seanadóir Quinn a mholadh as ucht an rún seo a chur ar an chlár. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir Mullen, tá ábhar fíor-tábhachtach agus oiriúnach os ár gcomhair. Tá dualgas orainn an ábhar fíor-thábhachtach seo a phlé go minic.

I listened carefully to Senator Quinn's contribution in proposing the motion but remain more sympathetic to the Government and Fine Gael Party amendments for reasons I will explain. The Senator made an interesting point about Ireland's dependency on imported energy, noting that renewable energy accounts for only 2% of energy consumption, whereas the target is 20%. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to the use of fossil fuels in transport.

Senator Quinn and I hold diverging views on the issue of nuclear power. I was interested to note his reference to a shift taking place among certain scientists who previously opposed nuclear power but are coming to regard the need to move towards nuclear power as the lesser of two evils. Their changing position owes much to the challenges to the environment arising from climate change since the middle of the previous century.

When I was first elected a county councillor in Wexford in 1979 Government policy on energy was led by Senator O'Malley's father, Mr. Des O'Malley, who was Minister for Industry and Commerce. At that time, county councillors were placed under considerable pressure to support the Minister's policy of introducing nuclear power. I and another Wexford County Councillor were very reluctant to do so given the highly controversial proposal to build a nuclear power plant at Carnsore.

Having examined the issue I could clearly see the economic justification for nuclear power being made at the time. However, the subsequent downturn resulted in a change in Government priorities and it was no longer necessary to accelerate expansion of our energy generation capacity. My opposition to nuclear power was based on the belief that there was insufficient justification for the generation of nuclear waste, which has a lifespan of thousands of years, to address a short-term economic need. My view that this waste would have adverse environmental effects on future generations has been borne out by subsequent developments in the nuclear industry. We have all heard and read about some of the horrific stories connected with the Sellafield nuclear plant, particularly the lack of transparency and secrecy surrounding some of the major accidents at that location, and other nuclear facilities elsewhere, including Chernobyl.

It is generally recognised that substantial amounts of nuclear waste are buried in locations at the bottom of the sea which have probably not even be marked and will continue to pose a major threat to the environment for thousands of years. While I do not have scientific evidence to support this view, I have no doubt that at the root of many cancers lies the irresponsible manner in which nuclear waste has been disposed of. For these reasons, I remain a strong opponent of the nuclear industry.

I fully support efforts to move towards a green agenda or, as Senator Butler described it, the generation of natural energy. A number of Irish energy companies are leading the field in this area having established operations in wind where we have been most successful.

Irish energy policy has three main goals, namely, to maintain secure energy supplies, support economic growth and competitiveness - a highly appropriate objective in current circumstances - and ensure energy supply and use is environmentally sustainable. We have made significant progress on some of these goals. In 2006-07, for example, gas accounted for 25% of our primary energy demand. Currently, 96% of gas used in Ireland is imported from Britain via interconnectors.

It is important to note, when considering the controversy surrounding the Corrib gas field, that the field will meet 60% of our annual gas demand for around five years from when it enters production until it starts to decline. It is essential, therefore, to bring this gas ashore as soon as possible and support the exploration industry in trying to find other gas and oil fields which will help secure energy independence and provide the sustainability we require.

Ireland has also invested heavily in gas storage on an all-island basis. Investment in the high pressure transmission network by Bord Gáis Éireann is substantial. In addition to the Mayo gas pipeline, a North-South pipeline is under development.

Many people in County Wexford were apprehensive when the ESB decided to dispose of its two generating stations at Tarbert and Great Island which is close to where I live. Both facilities have been acquired by Endesa, a Spanish company, which will operate them as gas fired plants. This is a positive development which will result in much-needed competition. Regulation should be reviewed to ensure its primary objective is to give consumers a better deal. I am far from convinced that the Commissioner for Energy Regulation considers competition an overriding priority.

In the area of electricity, substantial investment is being made in the North-South and east-west interconnectors, both of which should be operating by 2012. We have also decided to introduce a smart metering programme. I understand 21,000 ESB customers will have a smart meter installed in the coming months to enable them to control and reduce their electricity bills.

Ireland is moving in the right direction. Electricity generated by wind has increased from 5.2% of overall electricity production in 2004 to 12% currently. While I support the use of electric cars, unfortunately there does not appear to by any corresponding innovation in the heavy goods vehicle area, to facilitate a move away from oil, the fuel of the transport industry.

We are moving in the right direction regarding electricity and renewable energy is the way to go. Wind, solar and tidal wave power were mentioned. Other than wind, the other technologies still require significant development before they will be efficiently operated. We are moving in the right direction. It is important we remain focused on it because not only is oil contributing to CO2 and climate change and having an adverse impact, it is also a finite resource. Depending on who one believes there is a quite a possibility we will not have oil past the second half of this century. Economists are predicting when the current downturn starts to go on the incline, the price of oil will go in the very same direction and will become very expensive. There is much motivation for us to move in the direction of renewable energy.