John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to again raise the issue of wind energy and wind farm developments. I see in today's edition of the Irish Independentthat there are proposals to put up 46 wind turbines, each of which is 165 m high, in County Meath. I see the way that Element Power does its business. Instead of community engagement, it goes to the GAA and offers the clubs of County Meath €375,000 to buy them off. All this does is, yet again, divide communities in two. The way Element Power does its business is disgraceful.
I will be calling on the Leader to have a debate on the issue of wind energy in September with our new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government because it is time this issue was dealt with. Unfortunately, it was not dealt with by the previous Minister in respect of proper setback distances. Whatever the Department is suggesting to the Minister in respect of setback distances is not sufficient to deal with this huge problem that is coming down the tracks. I call on the Leader to ensure this urgent debate takes place in September.