Day 7

Saturday is normally a clinic day but not today - in an election everyday is a 24 hour clinic. To Dublin to launch our environmentally friendly energy policy this morning. The Green party have been benefiting from the surge in environmental issues, particularly in the last five years. As Minister for Environment I was at the initial Kyoto meetings and FF have always been the party to manage the environment in a sustainable way. We're focusing heavily on make renewable energy commercially viable and have put in place a target of 20% of Irish energy to come from renewables.

The HQ in Treasury Building is buzzing as usual when I arrive. It's hard to believe it's a Bank Holiday Saturday. The place is manic. Election fever has descended. People are either zipping around at hyperspeed or standing transfixed in front of a television watch the drama surrounding the Taoiseach unfold.

The launch is a low profile photoshoot with a few journalists present. My good friend, MJ Nolan, (one of the Gang of Four) is in attendance - he has a particular interest in this area from an environmental point of view and from the fact that Moorepark Research Centre (Teagasc) in Carlow is involved in research in the whole area of biofuels.

A quick bite to eat and out to RTÉ to do this week's Rodney Rice programme. Fergus O'Dowd, Colm O'Gorman, Patricia McKenna and Gene McKenna for a lively discussion. It felt like when Meath won the All-Ireland in 96 - 31 counties against one, but I love the cut and thrust of the panel discussion.

I went from RTE to the Red Cow Moran's Hotel to address the annual conference of the Irish Postmasters Union. During the past two and a half years I have had very many 'encounters' with the IPU on a variety of issues. We didn't always agree on issues but we had a very frank and honest debate on them. Mutual respect has blossomed.

I got a standing ovation from the conference following my speech and good wishes for the election campaign. Home then to continue the campaign. Tonight and tomorrow will be used largely to follow up on a lot of paperwork at the end of a very busy week.