Sharon Keogan (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State. I can clearly see that we are going to rely on offshore resources going forward for the electricity provision for this country. That is not good enough. It will not do. As he well knows, many of these are at early stages. We are now in 2025. Many of these projects are going to be held up by planning. We are not going to reach that 2030 target. I am not saying that the discussion revolving around this nuclear option will happen within five years either but it is a conversation that this Government should be willing to have. We are already taking in nuclear power through the back door. We are outsourcing that responsibility to the French. Let us be brave. That is what leadership is about. Sometimes we have to take very difficult decisions to be of the best advantage to the people that we represent. I am disappointed with this. Our energy vision is not good enough and nuclear energy is part of that. I wish to see our Government move towards that provision.