Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like the previous speaker, I want wind energy to be harnessed. However, this must be done in a sustainable and proper manner and local communities must be involved. What is happening in Laois and other counties at present flies in the face of this. Four areas in Laois have been designated in the local county development plan and four further areas are open to consideration. In fairness to them, local councillors developed some reasonable proposals in respect of this matter. However, what will happen is that a company will be able to use the strategic infrastructure legislation in order to sweep those proposals to one side.

The key issue is that electricity produced by means of wind energy must be used to supply local customers in the first instance. We do not want huge turbines to be plonked in the middle of Vicarstown, Ballybrittas or wherever and the energy they generate to be reserved exclusively for the British market. I do not have any hang-ups with regard to the export of electricity to Britain. We should do that if we have surplus supplies. However, we currently import 85% of our fuel and much of this is used to generate electricity in this country. We need to ensure that things are done the right way around and in a sustainable way.

Deputy Charles Flanagan referred to guidelines. These are not worth the paper on which they are written, particularly as they state that, in general, noise is unlikely to be a significant problem where the distance to the nearest turbine is more than 500 m. The guidelines are not specific in the context of distances. What we need to do is consider local heritage, the landscape and the impact of noise and of the shadow flicker effect of turbines on people. Companies are buying up location rights from farmers at present in a completely underhanded way. Regulations are required in this regard. All we have in place at present is the strategic infrastructure legislation, which large companies will use to sweep the democratic wishes of local councillors, as expressed in local development plans, and those of local communities to one side. We must try to stop this happening.

I ask that this matter be revisited. In addition, I am of the view that we should seek, on an all-party basis, to have regulations - not guidelines - similar to those which exist in other countries put in place.

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