Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the acting Leader to arrange the attendance of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, for a debate in the near future on the issue of energy. It is a very important and exciting area. As Members are aware, the cost of generating energy from fossil fuels depends on the price of the fuel and the cost of the power plants that use those fuels, whereas it is completely different in the case of renewables. We have the wind and the sun. Basically, the only cost is that of the technology that uses the wind or the sun to generate energy. As Members have seen, that cost has reduced dramatically in recent years. Although most Departments favour large-scale wind energy created by big wind plants, there should be a shift towards households generating their own energy. We could have a very important debate on that issue. I ask the acting Leader to arrange such a debate in light of the fact that the State is paying hefty fines to Europe as a consequence of its failure to generate enough renewable energy. It is an exciting area with significant potential for job creation. I ask that the debate be arranged for next week or as soon as possible in the new year.