Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In terms of onshore wind this country's record is not bad. We are one of the best performing countries in Europe. We provide approximately 30% of our electricity needs from onshore renewable wind farms currently and we will do a lot more. Now we are moving into solar also. I take some of the criticism but I also want to put on the record the delivery we have seen in recent years in terms of onshore wind.

In terms of a plan-led system, we are moving ahead on the remainder of the development of offshore renewable infrastructure on the basis of a plan-led system for very good reason. We have very clear advice from the Attorney General on this. What we do not want is to have permits being challenged in the courts that delay things for years. We need to have certainty that when we permit the building of enormous infrastructure offshore, which is what this is, we will be able to face down legal challenges quickly so we can move on and ensure the permits are actioned. That is the thinking behind a plan-led and State-led system, which in time developers will very much row in behind because they will see the legal sense of it.

See this speech in context