Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply. I have spoken with people who live adjacent to turbines and I believe they cause many problems for the people concerned. By its nature, a memorandum of understanding is a high-level document and does not go into detail. People are keen to see an overall strategy in place and that detailed economic, social and job creation assessments are done with reference to the people living in the vicinity. I read an article in which someone was quoted as referring to 400 workers. Thee may indeed be 400 workers but it is possible that not one of those will come from the jobless list. We need some social dividend clause in whatever is eventually agreed.

Will we be doing more than simply an environmental impact assessment? Will we do an economic assessment, a social assessment and an assessment of the impact on people living in the vicinity? Will any of these assessments come to the Oireachtas committee before a final contract is signed?

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