Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While welcoming the Bill and the debate last night and tonight, Deputy Coffey said we should use it as a platform for a wider debate on our energy supply and energy strategy. I agree. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, will soon publish a Green Paper on energy. Sinn Féin will make a submission on that, as it has on many previous energy issues such as EirGrid.

Sinn Féin’s position on energy systems is not just a Twenty-six County position. We want to see energy security and supply achieved on an all-Ireland basis. It must be sustainable and achieved in the best interests of the citizens of this island.

They are the three key issues for us.

Energy security has been the subject of focus and debate recently, particularly at EU level. The North-South Interparliamentary Association recently held a very productive session on energy security. There is no doubt that renewable energy will form an important part of our energy security policy. This is made particularly clear by the figures cited by a previous speaker on our reliance on fossil fuels for 87% of our energy needs. It is important, therefore, that we approach policy development strategically in order to meet future challenges and needs.

The review that the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is conducting of the planning guidelines will contribute to that strategic approach. However, the Minister of State acknowledged that there is also merit in taking a legislative approach. This is what we have put to the House tonight. Deputy Mulherin described the Bill as an opportunistic effort on the part of Sinn Féin and not grounded in reality. It is clear from her contribution, however, that she did not read the Bill. That is a pity because if we are to have an informed debate on an issue as important as this, it is imperative that the people who were elected to represent the citizens of this State would at least read the legislation on which they are asked to speak or vote.

The Bill contains a number of measures which warrant further discussion on Committee Stage. Public consultation is key to wind projects. Section 4 of the Bill deals with public consultation in a comprehensive and straightforward manner and it should be implemented. The section sets out a list of tasks that an individual applying for planning permission is required to complete, including placing an advertisement in a local paper and arranging public meetings to outline the plans to the local community.

I welcome that the Government has agreed to allow the Bill to proceed to Committee Stage but I will not be happy if the legislation is left on a shelf somewhere. This issue is too important to allow that to happen. Deputies Colreavy and Stanley will be pursuing the Bill on Committee Stage to ensure it is debated at the earliest opportunity.

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