Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)

I will try not to detain the witnesses too long. They have had a long session. First, I thank the OPR team for the training they provide to councillors, which is beneficial throughout. This question is for them. Is it possible to set a minimum standard for public consultation? There is a tendency in some local authorities to advertise projects and put them out to public consultation during the summer when there is lower engagement. Their collective recognition of the common good, and their focus on that, is welcome. Public consultation is intrinsic to meeting common good objectives.

On renewable energy, do they provide guidance, since we do not have guidelines, particularly for solar? I am in south east County Meath where we have approximately 2,000 acres of solar permission granted. I am not sure about the level of support or the competency within the local authority and the impact on the existing communities. There are different community grants, but they are not accessible to the community directly adjacent. They are accessible to organisations, community and voluntary groups that are statutorily structured. There is a mismatch there if the witnesses can or do provide guidance.

My ears pricked up when I heard about SIDs and notifying the HSE of wind turbines. Without mentioning an elephant in the room, the EPA does not monitor aircraft noise, but we know from other jurisdictions that there is significant health impact. If a solution were possible that could be put forward by a professional group that would mitigate against current and future aircraft noise, might that be considered by the coimisiún rather than the regulator? I hope I am not speaking too fast, but I am conscious of everybody's time. Environmental studies where they relate to renewable projects are client paid and client proffered. Is there scope for a fund being paid into where they would be independently evaluated as opposed to being produced for a client? I have a possibly unfounded concern about bias that could exist.