Alex White, new energy minister, has a key role now in fight against climate change

Congrats to Alex White TD on taking over as Miniser for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. A key Department in the fight against climate change.

Here is the Minister speaking as Labour leader in the Seanad, at the end of a debate on the Climate Protection Bill in October 2007, in response to Minister John Gormley and others.

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Senator Dominic Hannigan: I wish to raise a point of order. Reference was made to the Labour Party’s voting record in regard to the Climate Change Targets Bill in November 2005. The record shows clearly that we voted——

Acting Chairman (Labhrás Ó Murchú): A point of order can relate only to procedure and cannot respond to the Minister.

Senator Dominic Hannigan: It is not in response to the Minister but it is in regard to Senator de Búrca’s——

Acting Chairman: One can raise a point of order only on procedure.

Senator Dominic Hannigan: Okay. For the record, we voted in favour of the Bill. Senator Boyle was a teller on the day and he can confirm that.

Senator Dan Boyle: It was about the all-party committee and not the Labour Party. I will explain afterwards.

Acting Chairman: I will call on Senator Bacik to reply at 6.57 p.m. because we were two minutes late starting. It is now 6.54 p.m. Senator Alex White has three minutes.

Senator Alex White: I will not detain the House for more than two minutes.

In regard to what the Minister, Senator Boyle and others from the Government side said on co-operation from the Opposition, I would like to be crystal clear and would venture to suggest the Minister will have far more difficulty gaining co-operation from the people who sit on the benches behind him than he will ever have from these benches.

Senator Jerry Buttimer: He knows that.

Senator Alex White: He knows that. When he was in Opposition, he quite rightly pressed the Government in respect of these matters, as he related to us a few minutes ago, but did not get anywhere. It is fine for him to say he is in Government and he now wants the Opposition to swing the lead for him. I speak only for the Labour Party but it will not be found wanting, nor was it in regard to that proposed Bill. Apparently, it was suggested earlier that we voted against it, but we supported it. We will at all times support the types of measures fundamentally needed in respect of this issue. I say, with all due respect to the Minister, that it is on his side he needs to do the work and where the vested interests are represented in this and the other House. They are the people to whom he needs to speak if he wants to talk to the builders and others and not those of us on this side of the House. For our part, we are ready, willing and able to co-operate with those types of measures.