Dan Boyle (Green Party)

That is another reality we must all face. I am confident that individuals such as Professor Honohan can face the difficulties. We will be better as a country and secure agreement from the representatives of the bodies who will be visiting the country in the coming days.

On the call for a debate on climate change and wind energy, the Cabinet has made a decision on the publication of a climate change Bill. The Bill, rather than the heads, will be published before Christmas. I hope we will have the opportunity to debate it in the House at the earliest opportunity. We should be more inclined to admit that development of the wind energy sector has been one of the successes of the Government. Renewable energy resources now account for 15% of the total amount of energy we produce. Output has doubled in the past three and a half years and our proportion is the second highest in Europe. We have put in place the means to achieve the target of generating 40% of our energy from renewable resources by 2020. It is a little churlish to say we are not succeeding in this area. The reality is that we have put in place programmes that will benefit the country economically, environmentally and socially because of my party's participation in government.