Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)

If policy is not working and is wrong then there is a need to change it. Part of the Minister's argument in support of it working is that the industry is in the queue. I inquired of Eirgrid this morning the number of wind farm proposals for County Tipperary. The response I got is interesting. Of the 46 projects concerned, eight are already connected, 14 are in Gate 3 and 24 are in the queue. I ask that the Minister investigate the 12 applications submitted with no project name included. I am concerned that the Minister's policy may be leaving this open to speculation. Is the regulator on top of his job? We do not want happening here what happened in the financial industry. The Minister is leaving this open to speculators, people who can apply and then sell on to others ready and willing to roll with a project but who would otherwise have to buy their place in Gate 3. I ask that the Minister examine this element of speculation.

See this speech in context