Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I very much welcome Senator Bradford's suggestion on a debate on early school leavers and support his call. Senator Hanafin's comment that Ireland is the Saudi Arabia of green energy is a good and important statement and I certainly welcome consistent debates on that topic because it is crucial to the future of this country. I get a little nervous, however, when specific groups are referred to in this context as having a facility to produce energy in the west of Ireland for export to the United Kingdom. That particular model is not one we should take lightly. We need to look at energy security for our own country before we start looking at generating energy in Ireland and exporting it. Anything else is a dangerous way to do our business.

I also very much welcome the statement from Senator Callely on senatorial expenses which he will make later today. I reiterate the position of the Green Party that-----