Mary Flaherty
Question:4 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Energy if the Government have an energy policy; where it is stated; and if there are any plans for a Government paper on energy policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Policy.
The key objectives of this Government's energy policy are to strengthen energy supply systems, to improve the price competitiveness of energy supplies and to ensure that energy use conforms to current safety and environmental considerations.
The main policy objectives for energy were set out in the National Development Plan 1989-1993 and in the Programme for Government. As I have stated previously, I am not convinced that the publication of a White Paper on energy would alter these objectives or enable them to be achieved more effectively. I remain of the view that in a changing energy environment the emphasis should be on directing scarce resources towards the priority energy issues of the day.
Does the Minister know there is a great deal of confusion and a feeling of lack of direction in the area of industry generally particularly in relation to pricing of energy products and that there is a belief out there that there is a need for a publicly stated policy which would allow the kind of substantial investments that are required for most energy utilities to be developed and that this could be done in a clear, planned environment?
I am not clear as to what the Deputy is getting at. Her reference to prices may be misdirected because I have no control over prices. That is a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
We must now proceed to other questions.
The Minister has no control over anything. That is the problem.
I think we are doing very well. We have been through a number of crises which Opposition Deputies tried to hype up but did not succeed.