We must deal with major issues in trying to guarantee our energy supply, which is a big issue all over Europe. As the Deputy knows, many countries are moving back to nuclear power.

Does the Taoiseach agree with them?

No. Across the water political agreement has almost been reached on that issue, while France has expanded its nuclear industry. We are actively engaged in determining how we will deal with these issues in the longer term. The Deputy is correct that energy prices are increasing. The Corrib gas field and other factors will help in terms of our energy supply in the years to come and I hope we will find a few more fields.

The Corrib gas field will not help for long.

On the Deputy's point regarding the NGOs having an input, I have explained to him before how the NGOs are involved. We will always welcome inputs into the work of Sustainable Energy Ireland.

We need balanced regional development.

I have heard what everybody else is doing but not what the Government proposes to do, apart from planning a road which does not even feature in the Transport 21 plan.

Did the Taoiseach hear President George Bush's State of the Union address in which he stated the following?

Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy and here we have a serious problem. America is addicted to oil which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.

The US President used the term "addicted to oil". Now that the Tánaiste has banned magic mushrooms, will the Taoiseach agree that he is an oil addict and energy obese?

Will someone sound the bugle and get us out of here? It is time to leave.

The first step to recovery for any addict is to admit the problem. Will the Taoiseach admit, as a start, that he is addicted to oil?

Deputy Sargent will continue to lead his motley crew.

This is a serious matter and the Taoiseach will pay heavily for not dealing with it. He may recall — I was not born at the time — that T. K. Whitaker set out his vision for Ireland in the late 1950s. The Taoiseach now celebrates that vision through the Celtic tiger. Does he agree that we need to move beyond petroleum and show the same vision as T. K. Whitaker if we are to benefit in the years ahead? Without such vision, our economy will not be at the races and people will suffer badly on account of the Taoiseach. With 57 amber alerts last year — these signify near blackouts — we clearly need an energy policy. Will the Taoiseach, as a first step, admit we have a problem of addiction to oil?

As I stated, energy policy is being prepared for the longer term and we need to examine new approaches. Separate consultations are taking place on various aspects of renewable energies. Public consultation has occurred on combined heat and power and bioenergy. The proportion of energy produced by wind will increase to 13.2% by the end of the decade. All these issues are important.

The Deputy asked about the NGOs.

They are not involved in the partnership process.

Yes, but they are involved in the core organisation and have an input into it. I did not hear what the American President said during the night——

The Taoiseach usually listens very closely to what the US President says.

The Deputy's party is far closer to him, having stayed up until 3 a.m. to listen to him. I am glad it is moving closer to American policy. As I stated, if the Deputy wishes to have an input, I am sure all his suggestions will be closely examined. I promise him I am not addicted to oil. It would be very bad for me.