Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I support Senator Walsh's call on the Leader to do everything possible to ensure the Construction Contracts Bill is squeezed into our work programme. While the Bill is not large, it has major implications. I am not aware of anyone who does not want it passed. I am concerned it may fall by the wayside.

It was interesting to meet a man a couple of years ago who was in the wind energy business. He had stopped investing in Ireland and was now investing in Texas. He went to Texas looking for permission for his wind farm. He asked how long it would take to get permission for a number of windmills. He was told that he could come back on Wednesday and he would have permission. It took one week. This week I read figures that relate to Senator Ó Brolcháin's comments on administrative difficulties. Some 300 applications for wind farms have been made since 2007. Not one has been granted permission and no indication has been given on when the decision will be made. This is a €17 billion investment that is being tied up with red tape. I cannot believe it. It seems outrageous when other countries can do it. That man decided he will invest in the US rather than in Ireland for that reason.

On that basis, I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the Oireachtas Committees on Procedure and Privileges following the recent publication of an Oireachtas document detailing savings. Following decisions of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and the Committees on Procedure and Privileges of both Houses a number of instances of red tape removal and savings are listed. The savings amount to over €1 million. The daily editions of the Official Report of debates in both Houses and the committees will be produced in electronic format only. Well done. Dáil questions and replies will be published in electronic format only. Printers in Leinster House will be configured to print automatically on both sides of the paper unless requested otherwise. Staff and printing costs are to be saved by moving to a system of paperless committees during 2011. Congratulations is due to the Committees on Procedure and Privileges of both Houses for the opportunity to save money and save what seems to be a major amount of waste. I still have a hang-up. We receive the Order Paper in an envelope in our pigeonholes every day. I do not know why we need an envelope.