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

I thank the Minister for his reply. Everybody agrees that wind energy is a good thing, but the expected benefits from renewable energy, including wind energy, will not be achieved unless there is a strategy in which we set out what we intend to achieve and how we intend to achieve it in terms of the financial income to the State, the impact on the host community and the benefits for the host community. We have two ways of doing that. We can set out our stall, work with people and have it done, or we can work against people. I am a strong proponent of bringing people with us and getting them to understand the reason for a development. Otherwise, private companies will come in, short-term jobs will be created, there will be financial gain for a number of landowners, but the wider societal and local community benefits will not accrue unless we set them out and aim to achieve them.

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