Government publishes plan aimed at reducing reliance in Ireland on fossil fuels.
Government published what it terms an ambitious and comprehensive strategy to boost renewable energy and significantly reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions.
The Government's stated target is to significantly reduce our reliance on imported oil, coal and gas and thereby reduce harmful CO2 emissions.
The plan is to produce one third of our energy from renewable sources such as wind and tidal power by the year 2020.
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey said his new plan was underpinned by sound economics and includes a new provision of fixed price contracts to renewable suppliers of peat power stations. His cabinet colleagues and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche described the plan as a world leader and claimed,
This government has been the most progressive environmental government we've ever seen.
Opposition party Fine Gael described the Bioenergy Plan as more of the same and Fergus O'Dowd claimed that it would get zero marks from the voters.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 4 March 2007. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
