For a long time many economists, including Colm McCarthy whom the Government is happy to reference and quote on a regular basis, have referred to the wind energy strategy as economic lunacy, a disaster and not financially viable. The previous Government was warned by the same economists that we were in a property bubble. It did not listen and it cost taxpayers €64 billion. The wind energy strategy has the potential to cause an even bigger crash in the very near future. Will the Leader bring the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to the House to prove to us that the wind energy strategy is economically viable? We need to see the figures and start listening to the same economists who tried to advise the previous Government.

I second Senator Marc MacSharry's amendment to the Order of Business.

Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir Ó Ceallaigh i dtaca leis an gceist sin. I support Senator John Kelly's call for a debate on the issue of the multi-million euro wind energy industry. Every citizen with an electricity bill pays for the wind energy industry through a public service obligation levy of approximately €10. Where does this money go? It goes to fund the wind energy sector. It is a bubble which is getting bigger under the watch of the European Commission and the Minister. We need a debate on the issue. International investors now see Ireland as ripe for pickings.

On rural development funding, there has been much discussion on Pillars 1 and 2 of the CAP and the co-funding requirements. Funding for rural development under Pillar 2 is split approximately 50:50. A total of €4.8 billion was available under the rural development programme from 2007 to 2013. At the end of November €800 million of this money had not been spent. Ireland will lose this European Union money if it is not spent. It is for rural Ireland which is losing out. The rural broadband scheme was launched by the previous Government and continued by the Government, but it is now off the radar. Ireland will lose €13.5 million because the Government has decided to scrap the scheme. A total of 12,500 properties in the State do not have access to broadband. Many of these are in rural areas such as Arranmore Island, Tory Island and Dunlewey in County Donegal. In reply to a recent parliamentary question the Government stated there was no demand. I contacted the companies willing to provide the service and they wrote to me to state they had not even been consulted. The Scottish Government has drawn down money and provided the service for 2,500 residents. It is outrageous.

Is the Senator seeking a debate on the issue? Tá an t-am istigh.

Yes. I know time is tight before Christmas, but it would be unfortunate if the money was not drawn down or advances were not made between now and the new year. I appeal to the Leader to debate this issue, if not before Christmas, as soon as we return. Why should the country and rural Ireland lose out when the money is available?