Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Prior to the summer recess I called for a moratorium when I raised the matter as a Topical Issue, but this was rejected by the Minister. Might there be no need for a moratorium, given the assurances or reassurances from the relevant Minister? He said no export licence would be issued until such time as the new guidelines were in place, which would be some time in the second half of next year.

The issue of noise is very important for everyone living in the locality, but it can have an even greater effect on people with autistic children or for those with sensory issues. I ask the group to elaborate on this topic.

Mr. Kennedy has commented that more than 1,000 landowners are signed up across the midlands to avail of an option on the erection of wind turbines. There is anecdotal evidence that a number of these landowners would now like to get out of these clauses, primarily because of the good work done by Ms Nora Fagan in highlighting the great deficiencies in the contracts. Why is it the case that so many landowners have been signed up if what the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte said, is accurate and that these turbines will be moved or their operators will be persuaded to go to State-owned lands and cutaway bogs? What is the reason for going through this process with over 1,000 landowners?

Dr. Chris Hanning said the ideal set-back distance would be 1.5 km. I have raised the matter of best practice and the Danish model at numerous public meetings. The Danes are experts in the area of wind energy and renewable energy in the past two decades. Mr. Duncan said the Danes had a system to compensate anyone whose property had been devalued, but they also have a short set-back distance of turbines from residential dwellings, at four or five times the height of the dwelling. The settlement pattern in Denmark is similar to that in Ireland. I am interested in hearing the views of Mr. Bowdler and Dr. Hanning on the Danish model which is regarded as best practice in the European Union.