Large crowds turned up at the RDS Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show yesterday for the highlight of the event, the Best Dressed Lady competition.
While most eyes were on fashion yesterday, some were more focused on generating a different kind of energy, energy from wood which now heats the Merrion Road building of the RDS.
Ms Mary Wallace TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food with special responsibility for forestry, came here yesterday and inspected the recently installed RDS wood-fired boiler system.
During the visit Ms Wallace reiterated her commitment to the development of wood energy as an alternative to fossil fuels and recognised the forward-looking policy of the RDS.
She said that this new installation in the RDS serves as an excellent example of what can be achieved in this area and referred to the many new wood and biofuel energy projects now being put in place throughout the country, including in her own department offices in Wexford.
"During these times of rising oil prices and environmental concerns about fossil fuels it is imperative that we develop viable renewable alternatives beyond the demonstration stage and into widespread utilisation," she said.
The Minister also used the opportunity of her visit to remind forest owners of the closing date for the RDS/Forest Service Irish Forestry awards. Applications for consideration must be received by the RDS by next Friday, August 18th. The award ceremony will take place in Farmleigh House in October.
Across the road from the RDS grounds, the president of the Irish Farmers Association urged the Government to encourage the alternative fuel industry both on and off Irish farms.
Pádraig Walshe said that just like horse breeding, alternative energy crops would provide more income for Irish farms and would help the State to reduce its dependency on imported fuels, now running at 90 per cent.
Mr Walsh said the excise duty relief funding to promote biofuel usage by the Government must give pilot status to Irish biofuel industries up to 2010 in order to establish the technology and critical mass in this country.
"I expect that when the EU reviews its energy policy, higher biofuel substitution targets will be set for the years after 2010 and there is a strong case that these should become mandatory on the member states," he said.
Irish farmers, he said, had the potential to supply biomass crops such as willow and miscanthus and had shown their ability to grow oilseed rape. What was needed was a Government commitment.
Mr Walshe also called on the Department of Agriculture and Food to pay the full livery costs of horse owners whose horses could not be moved from a Kildare veterinary hospital because of restrictions imposed as a result of "swamp fever".