John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

It is important to start celebrating economic events. We should recognise that the ESB has acquired Northern Ireland Electricity which will create synergies and opportunities, North and South. It is important to discuss these flagship enterprises, take an interest in them and seek to ensure they develop to their full potential, especially in the light of the opportunities available in the green energy sector. Ireland is the Saudi Arabia of the green energy sector because we can exploit wave, tidal and wind energy. We are ideally placed to take advantage of green energy with an interconnector that connects us to the rest of Europe.

There have been discussions of cutbacks in the area of disability. Unfortunately cutbacks are part of what we need to do. When cutting back we would always try to ensure no individuals are disadvantaged. We need to recognise we are in tough fiscal times. With that in mind, I ask the Leader for a schedule of the costs to the State of implementing the civil partnership Bill.