Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Yesterday, we learned about the loss of 785 jobs in Pfizer and heard also that of all the locations throughout the world in which Pfizer operates, Ireland is its highest cost base. As I speak, every company in this country is facing the threat of remaining competitive. Why are we not playing to our strengths as a nation? Why are we not harnessing our natural resources? We have the second highest wind speeds in Europe after Scotland. We have wave power and it rains here almost every day. Why are we not a harvester of energy? As a nation that is the natural infrastructure in which we should invest. It is for that that we should borrow from the European Central Bank to ensure we can not only supply our own energy needs but also be a net exporter of energy to Europe. If we decided to be forward thinking we would see that we are sitting on a green energy goldmine. I support Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on energy to allow us examine our overall natural resources.

Last week The Irish Times did a wonderful feature on the Finnish education system. It outlined the main reason it excels in achievement and is the leader in education in the developed world is because of the quality, autonomy, status and qualification of its teachers. The teaching profession is under attack in this country and the education system is unravelling. I ask the Leader to arrange an open, all-party debate in this House on the type of education system we want for our country that will deliver a caring society and a thriving economy, because we need both. We must also have the debate on governance.

What is the maximum response time by which a fire service should be available to ensure there is a reasonable chance of lives being saved? In south Connemara currently, there are cases of people having to wait up to one and a half hours for a fire service. Is that legal? I would appreciate it if the Leader put that question to the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran.