Feargal Quinn (Independent)

It is clear at this time of crisis that we must concentrate our energies on tackling the problems and challenges facing us. However, let us remember that during the good times there are failures and that during the bad times there are successes. We should be looking for opportunities. One opportunity I believed we would have when the Government came into power three years ago was associated with the fact that we had a Green Party Minister in charge of dealing with climate change and energy issues. I was surprised to discover that the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change had met eight times in 2008 and twice in 2009 but had not met once this year. Is this because of a lack of interest or because we have solved all of the problems? One problem we have not solved is meeting targets in respect of wind energy.

I want to concentrate on wind energy because I saw figures that surprised me. In Denmark 23,000 people are employed in the wind energy sector. There are 1,500 people employed in the sector here and the opportunity seems to have been lost. Only last week Senator Butler drew our attention to the Spirit of Ireland campaign and the efforts being made in that regard. However, we do not see anything happening, only efforts to produce more reports. We are told that in Britain all of the reports have been produced and that the British authorities are happy to give us any they have produced. We do not need more reports; what we need is action, as we have opportunities.

The figures are surprising. In Denmark and Germany 90% of all wind farms are community wind farms. The investors have not gone to the banks to seek the money required as they have been able to provide it themselves. The wind farms are privately owned and local communities are involved. There are 30,000 dairy farms in Ireland. In Denmark and Germany practically all dairy farms have wind energy units. We could achieve half this number in Ireland. We have an opportunity to do so. We are told Ireland is suited to wind energy production and that we are capable of using it, yet we are not. We should be doing something about this.

Let me ask a question that Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú raised in the past. I refer to the opportunity to put online the 1926 census returns. The success of the online version of the 1911 census returns is such that it is attractive to both tourists and the Irish Diaspora. Let us determine whether we can put the results of the 1926 census online. Senator Ó Murchú has raised this issue with the Leader. What has happened in this regard? This is another opportunity we are missing.