Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

Guidelines need to be sent to local authorities because their planners are responsible for the day-to-day work but if the Minister or his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, sends guidelines, which they are laying down in every other area, to the local authorities to make sure they are not imposing on people, the wind farms will be welcome, particularly if the benefit and good they can provide is pointed out to the community.

The explanatory memorandum refers to the transport of bulky biomass around the country and states trains could be used. That could be important because it would be a way to improve the use of the railways and it should be encouraged.

Many other aspects of the Bill are welcome. The discussion on the Bill has been good. I refer to some of the points I made about the carbon tax and the difficulties associated with it. It is important that we do a good public relations job when we send out the message about alternative energy. We must educate people on why it is being done and why it is a benefit to the economy in the long term. I welcome the discussion on the Bill.

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