David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I just wanted to raise again the State meeting its renewable energy targets. I commend the thousands of people who took part in a protest today outside the gates of Leinster House.

They were protesting for many different reasons but primarily against the imposition of industrial for-profit wind farms that are being erected in parts of the country to export energy outside of Ireland. They were also protesting against the imposition of overhead high voltage power lines through EirGrid’s various Grid Link projects across the State which would spoil many parts of our countryside and create many problems for people, all of which were articulated during the protest.

I welcome the scrapping of the midlands private for-profit wind farm plan. That is a consequence of the significant political and community pressure, as well as people power, that has been exerted on the Minister and the Government. Common sense has prevailed. Those of us, both in government and opposition, who campaigned against this have been vindicated by what has happened over the past several days.

While I know we have debates on the whole area of renewable energy in the House, we need a proper debate on it. Renewable energy needs to be underpinned by sustainable planning and proper planning guidelines with a more holistic view of it. However, the most important principle to underpin any renewable energy strategy in the State and on this island has to be whatever energy is created is used for the people first and foremost. We should not be importing energy from fossil fuels or from Russia while, at the same time, exporting energy created in this State from renewable sources. It does not make any sense. It is all about profit, not about the people of this State.

I am afraid for the Government it is back to the drawing board. It needs to listen to those people who were outside Leinster House today, articulating real concerns about EirGrid’s plans and industrial wind farms. We must learn lessons from mistakes made in the past and introduce a policy that will have the support of all parties. The Government even accepted a Sinn Féin Bill on wind turbine regulation in the Dáil last week. There is common ground in this area and we can reach consensus in reaching our renewable energy targets. In that spirit, will the Leader arrange a debate on this matter in the near future?