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

There are three elements to the issue. The first element is the planning guidelines and legislation for the wind turbines. The second element is the wider planning and critical infrastructure policy, procedures and legislation. The third element is the Government's view of what local government and local governance should mean.

The Minister of State has said this was a draft directive and that she will not comment on it. That is like the HSE west-north west hospital group suggesting it is only a proposal to remove maternity services from Sligo General Hospital and that a decision has not been made. It is like saying the Environmental Protection Agency is considering only hydraulic fracturing and that a decision had not been made. They are both considering something that should not happen anyway. It would be the express opinion of the people in the affected areas that these things should not happen and should not be even discussed.

It is foolish to process wind farm planning applications when the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has indicated that he will shortly publish a Green Paper on energy and when we have been told that no financial arrangements have been discussed with the British Government for our midlands being used as a giant British offshore wind energy farm.

Similarly elected members of Leitrim County Council, representing Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent, voted by a large majority to have fracking banned in the county development plan, yet the EPA is spending its time and taxpayers' money on continuing research into something that anybody, who cares for the next generation, would know should not be allowed under any circumstances or any regulatory regime.

This is not reform of local government and whatever it is, it is not democracy.

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