Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin has raised a very interesting point. This is a serious matter. Our country imports between €6 billion and €7 billion worth of energy in fossil fuels every year. Clearly, the Government has set targets to be reached by 2020 in terms of the reduction of carbon emissions. This is an enormous bill that our people must pay.

When I came into this House in the beginning, the Minister for Lands - the Minister for the environment at the time - had full and absolute authority in respect of planning permissions for any kind of development. Clearly, the path that that followed led to serious problems and serious issues, tribunals and all of that. We have got a very robust, very independent and very analytical planning process now.

Deputy Martin made the point that the guidelines did not deal with the extent of the change in technology and its sophistication these days. I would argue differently. The environmental impact analyses that are now required for almost every kind of planning application are exhaustively extensive, I have to say. Clear consultation and discussion with communities is very important.

I know there are two major applications for wind farms in the country. I remind the Deputy that, because of our relationship with Great Britain and because of the energy requirements of Great Britain between now and 2020 in particular, with more than £50 billion to be spent, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Britain whereby if through the planning process here approval is given for wind development or renewable energy development in general, we can export energy directly to the British market, subsidised by the British taxpayer as part of that memorandum of understanding.

I visited the wind farm between Charleroi and Brussels two years ago. It is one of the highest turbine masts in Europe. Farmers get paid approximately €100,000 per year for the location of the mast. These are turbines without gearboxes, so there is none of the traditional noise that used to emanate from them.

Where I live in the west, there are 40 or 50 turbines on the hill. Some of them are ten or 15 years old and they are not as large as the ones the Deputy is talking about.

Consultation is critical. To be honest about this, I understand that the companies involved have had extensive and ongoing consultations with local communities. Deputy Martin might disagree with that; I am informed differently. That is a point of argument again.

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