Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was asked who represented my Department or the Government at a certain conference in Glasgow which we first learned about when the Senator raised this issue. My answer to that question was that nobody represented the Department and, therefore, I was unable to answer the Senator's other question on the extent to which it would inform public policy. I answered the question I was asked.

I respectfully reject any suggestion that this Government is in the grip of any particularly industry or interest. Wind energy, whether on-shore and, hopefully, off-shore, will continue to feature in our energy policy. I am in close consultation with people who have interests in biomass and bio-energy generally. We published a draft bio-energy policy paper last year.

Finally, I assure the Senator that international research will inform all of our decisions. The best technical research and scientific evidence will inform my decisions and, I sure, the decisions of my colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.