Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his opening statement. This week was obviously an important one with the opening of the conference on climate change which is very much on the agenda. We all have a responsibility to stop its effects and to reduce our carbon footprint. The biggest obstacle I see not just for Ireland but for every country is public acceptance and participation. Communities must feel that they are part of the change. Two years ago the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government asked communities to have their say, particularly on wind energy. I do not believe we should have as significant a focus on wind as we do but communities were asked to have their say and to have an input into new, revised wind energy guidelines. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for those. I note that the Minister said during Leaders' Questions this morning that negotiations had not broken down between himself and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. However, the fact that we are still waiting for the guidelines suggests otherwise.

In my county, we have a proposal for 46 industrial wind turbines. The project is developer-led and the community was originally told that the energy was to be exported to the UK. However, when negotiations between the UK and Ireland broke down, the project suddenly became important for our own national grid. People have no confidence in what has been said and they have no confidence in the wind sector because of the way it has gone on. One way we can reinforce confidence in the sector is by publishing revised guidelines which take people's concerns and genuine fears on board. It would be irresponsible for us as a Government not to resolve this before the end of the current Dáil term. Is that something the Minister hopes to do? When was his Department first consulted about the revised guidelines and how many meetings has it had with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in that regard? When was the last time the Ministers met to discuss this?

Can the Minister explain community involvement a bit more? Communities feel they are not being involved or included. How does the Minister expect to deal with current applications? Is it the case that applications which are being processed now will be left behind and that things will carry on from whenever the new White Paper is published or will companies be held accountable immediately and asked to revise how they have engaged with communities? How is EirGrid being held accountable in respect of community involvement with people in Meath, Cavan and Monaghan in respect of the North-South interconnector? EirGrid has not engaged in that regard in the same manner it did with communities in respect of GridLink and GridWest.