Recent data produced by the World Resources Institute shows that Ireland is having a sustainable recovery, successfully growing economic output while reducing environmental impact.

Why is it State sector bodies have a beginning, and maybe a middle, but no end?

The increase this month in the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy, that all electricity users pay to support the renewable energy industry, should prompt a pause for thought about the rollout of this industry here.

In the opinion section on your paper on August 8, Gerard Howlin writes about Pat Rabbitte’s difficulty coping with being dropped from government. Paudy McMahon wrote a letter rebuffing Gay Byrne who expressed fears about the role of the EU in our lives and Tom Duffy stressed how our government is ramming through its wind energy programme with no regard to the health impact on residents.

USA: A man claiming to be God slammed a stolen landscaping truck into a Baltimore-area television station, then spent hours watching live TV news footage of the scene before he was arrested by local authorities-

A United Nations (UN) report on climate change warned last week that storm surges, flooding and rising sea levels will wreak increasing havoc on our lives unless Governments take urgent action to reduce carbon emissions.

Our political system is so inadequate it would be better to invite a cross-section of consultancy firms to apply for membership of Dáil Eireann and vote for the ones most likely to benefit the nation.

UK demand for Irish renewable energy is not as strong as plans to build hundreds of windfarms across Ireland would suggest.

A geologist has cast doubt on claims that there is a vast reservoir of shale gas in west Clare of up to 3.86trn cubic feet.

The mood music around Irish offshore exploration is as positive as it has been since the early 1980s writes Kyran Fitzgerald, but John Teeling, of Petrel Resources, says it is ‘too early to be counting eggs’

A mere 121 electric cars have been registered to drive on Irish roads this year.

Two firms seeking to begin fracking in Ireland to release natural gas trapped in shale have confirmed initial positive results.

An Irish company that had signed up to a deal with ESB in 2010 to develop 50 megawatts of geothermal electricity in Ireland has abandoned its plans — and the country — because the Government has not yet legislated to support the clean energy technology.

Motorists are getting into a “feeding frenzy” in their efforts to avoid fuel shortages, an industry leader has warned.

THE white smoke has emerged from the ESB chimney.

LAST week, while filling in for Vincent Browne on TV 3, I stumbled across a current controversy.

NTR boss Michael McNicholas, regarded in the industry as a ‘safe pair of hands’, is busy picking up the pieces after his predecessor’s costly gamble on solar power backfired badly, helping to notch up record losses of €381m at the group, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

As chief executive of the ESB since 2002, Padraig McManus has overseen huge changes in the commercial state body. He will step down later this year, leaving a rejuvenated company behind, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

THE Government was accused last night of “completely failing” some of the worst affected victims of the devastating flood which struck Cork city last November, causing an estimated €100 million damage.

CUSTOMERS are facing hikes of 4%-5% in their electricity bills as the Energy Regulator has given its approval to the placing of a €157 million levy on all electricity users.

A US government document revealed that the Obama administration is planning to cut the US nuclear stockpile by up to 40% by 2021.

YOUR report headlined ‘FG calls on Government to increase gas storage’ (April 14) quotes a spokesman for the Department of Energy as saying “the development of the Corrib Gas field would also provide a new source of gas supply which could meet up to 60% of our annual demand in its early years of operation”.

IRELAND’S electricity supply would be endangered if there was any kind of energy shock as we can only store 11 days of gas in this country compared with an EU average of 52 days.

WATCH out for this eye-catching sportscar. The first of its kind on these shores, it goes from 0-95km/h in a mere four seconds – yet it is 100% electric.

THE ESB and Department of Energy are predicting that 2,000 electric cars will be on the country’s roads by the end of next year — even though we have just 100 so far.

THE wind energy sector has warned that Ireland is looking increasingly unlikely to meet its target of providing 40% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 unless greater price stability is provided to operators.

IRISH motorists could see the country’s first electric car-charging points next year as the Government progresses its plan to make the country a pioneer in the field of electric vehicles.

THERE was warm welcome for the announcement by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan that householders and farmers will be paid by the Electricity Supply Board for any surplus electricity that they generate from wind turbines, photovoltaic panels or other alternative energy source.

US President Barack Obama piled pressure on Congress to approve his near $1tn (€780bn) economic stimulus plan today, telling Capitol Hill that “the time for talk is over”.

Irish families could save hundreds of euro every year by reducing the energy they use, according to the Power of One campaign.

HOUSEHOLD energy bills could be reduced by €500 a year after the Government announced plans to give householders up to €2,750 each to make their homes more energy-efficient.

What O’Connor really wanted to do was explore options for renewable energy sources...

ONE of the country’s biggest petrol retailers is calling on the Government to continue an excise relief scheme for the sale of biofuels, describing the current market as an unfair playing field.

IRELAND is the third biggest market for cars run on biofuel. It is behind only Sweden and France.

PETROL and diesel-dependent industries can expect few breaks in the upcoming budget, with the Department of Energy pointing to the development of the biofuels industry as the solution to the surge in oil prices.

THE smart-metering system launched by the Government yesterday might save money in terms of more efficient electricity supply — but the cost to the consumer of running the machines could make receiving the power more expensive.

Child-centred policies, community gardaí and renewable energy will be Green priorities in Government, it was claimed tonight.

Wall Street stalled today after a battery of reports indicated the US economy was stronger than expected and raised concerns that the Federal Reserve might be more aggressive about interest rates next year.

Stocks rallied for a second session today, pushing to four-month highs even as oil prices showed a slight rebound after seven days of losses.

A BRITISH minerals expert yesterday defended his valuation of a State-owned sand and gravel property in Co Wicklow, sold privately to the Roadstone company in 1990 for £1.25 million (€1.58m).

FORMER senior Roadstone executives told the Moriarty Tribunal yesterday there was no evidence of political interference when the company privately bought State lands in Co Wicklow that contained large sand and gravel deposits 15 years ago.

NO improper, unethical or political influence was brought to bear when State lands were sold privately to the Roadstone company — whose chairman was financial adviser to then Taoiseach Charles J Haughey, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.