Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a léiriú go bhfuil mé an-sásta go bhfuil an Rialtas ag ligean don Bhille seo bogadh ar aghaidh chuig an chéad Chéim eile. Táim buíoch as sin. É sin ráite, tá súil agam go bhfuil siad dáiríre faoi seo. Mar a dúirt an Teachta O'Brien, tá súil agam nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur an Bhille seo ar leataobh go dtí go mbeidh an toghchán thart.I hope the Government is not merely kicking to touch in order to defuse a difficult issue in the run up to the local elections.

The Government has to act to ensure that this Bill is progressed as quickly as possible. County and regional managers should take note of this decision by the Government and any wind turbine development plans currently under way should reflect this.

I want to be clear that Sinn Féin is for developing Ireland's renewable energy potential. We are for wind energy. Freisin, tá Sinn Féin ag éisteacht le pobail ar fud na tíre. Sin an fáth go bhfuil an Bille seo curtha chun tosaigh againn.

Citizens right across rural Ireland are concerned at the impact that plans for the large-scale construction of industrial wind turbines could have on their homes, on their farms and on their communities. Contrary to the Minister of State, Deputy Perry's, protestations, rural communities have struggled to get their voices heard by the Government.

Fine Gael and Labour, and, before them, Fianna Fáil, have all failed local communities on this issue. In government, these parties failed to address community concerns and instead allowed the State's entire renewable energy strategy to be dictated by private wind energy firms.

The Bill, which I commend - I commend our foireann, mar chuir siad é le chéile - is a common sense piece of work. It puts communities at the heart of the decision-making process. It attempts to impose proper regulation of all aspects of wind turbine construction. This includes proper zoning of areas for wind turbine developments, the duties of planning authorities, setback distances and the responsibility of decommissioning wind turbines. Proper regulation should have been in place already, and this Bill seeks to rectify the mistakes made by this and previous Governments.

At present, the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, which was rammed through the Dáil by Fianna Fáil, can be used to override county development plans drawn up by local councils. We believe that wind farm projects must be consistent with county development plans. This Bill also restores the primacy of county development plans in that, under its provisions, wind farms must be located only in areas zoned by local councils.

The Bill also seeks to ensure that Ireland's energy demands are met before renewable energy is exported. Any renewable energy which is produced here should go to lessen the fuel bills of ordinary working families. The recent sale of wind projects developed by Bord Gáis, which amounts to approximately 15% of the wind capacity from the island of Ireland, to a foreign multinational is a regressive step. As I stated, we are committed to renewable energy, but it must be led by semi-State companies such as the ESB and Bord na Móna.

On privatisation, I do not blame Fine Gael. Fine Gael is clear that it is for privatisation, but the agenda on privatisation being pushed by the Fine Gael and Labour has resulted in the loss of this wind portfolio, which is a strategic asset in the production of energy on this island. The sale of this portfolio to foreign private interests, to use as they see fit, will not help our energy security.

It is imperative, on top of all of this, that the Minister for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources looks at this in an all-Ireland context and that we deliver, in co-operation with our friends in the North, an all-island strategy on energy as soon as possible. We are saying clearly that further privatisation should not form part of that strategy.

In this Bill, Sinn Féin is saying that proper planning is essential for major developments in rural areas. Clarity around land access and land use is essential. It is also essential that farming communities are made fully aware of the consequences of signing contracts with energy companies, and that the concerns expressed by local communities are addressed. In my view, and in the view of Sinn Féin, TDs of all parties and none now have an opportunity to do the right thing and to stand up for communities across this State by supporting this Bill through all Stages.

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