Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Undoubtedly, the public debate surrounding wind turbines, which has been going on for some time, has been heated and passionate and at times somewhat less than objective. I say this following a number of public meetings in my constituency and beyond. I am sure my constituency colleague, Deputy Stanley, can testify that the meetings have been heated and difficult and have been noted for the amount of information that was not forthcoming rather than the amount placed before the communities.

I believe it is important that we have a calm and honest debate on the future of renewable energy, and from that perspective I welcome the Bill and this debate. Some 86% of the national energy requirement is imported, at a cost to the State of more than €6.2 billion per annum. By 2020, it is envisaged that one-third of electricity consumed here will come from a renewable source. Our 2020 targets must be met and we must discuss how this can be done without an adverse impact on local communities. Some wind development companies have shown little regard for the consultation process that must occur if communities are to be convinced of the need for them and if calm is to prevail. This lack of regard has led to an element of fear and mistrust in these communities, which has given rise to a plethora of misinformation regarding wind energy and wind turbines.

I believe people should be allowed make a real and meaningful contribution to the process, and for that reason I welcome the current consultation. This consultation allowed for public submissions and I and other colleagues made submissions to it. I expressed concerns in two particular areas regarding the impact wind turbines will have on rural communities in my constituency and beyond. First, under the review of wind energy guidelines, I have called for thoroughbred stud farms and horse racing training facilities to be included under the definition of noise-sensitive properties. Ireland is a world leader in this field when it comes to producing brood mares, racehorses and stallions.

The industry employs more than 14,000 people and makes a direct economic contribution of more than €1 billion per annum to the economy. The main concerns expressed by the industry are that the location of wind farms close to stud farms would have an unsettling effect on bloodstock. A special case must be made for bloodstock as horses are extremely sensitive. Leading bloodstock experts believe the close proximity of wind turbines would lead to horses reacting unfavourably owing to increased noise, the rotation of the wind turbines and the movement of shadows cast by the blades.

I made a separate submission on the close proximity of wind turbines to rural dwellings. I say this as a public representative from a mainly rural constituency in the midlands that is engaged in a very heated debate on the pros and cons of turbines. The proposals made by wind farm development companies could see turbines in excess of 180 m high located in my constituency. The increase in the recommended set back from wind turbines from 250 m to 500 m was an acknowledgement by the authors of the revised wind energy guidelines that wind farms should be located at an appropriate distance from residential areas. I am concerned about the size and scale of some of the turbines. While the minimum set back is preferable, consideration must also be given to allowing a set back distance that would correlate with the height of the proposed turbines and applying the appropriate separation distance from a residential area of special amenity value.

I am pleased that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, yesterday acknowledged that this point required at least further consideration. In the matter of the recommended set back distance we must consider a study by the All-Island Research Observatory, AIRO, in Maynooth that states a set back distance of 2 km would leave a mere 3% of the total land area of the country available to wind farm development. I would like to hear the views of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, following the decision by the Irish and British Governments not to proceed with the intergovernmental agreement and the consequences this will have for wind turbine developments in the midlands.

I welcome this debate. While I do not agree with much of the legislation, it is important that we attempt in this House to achieve a level of consensus on an important industry that has given rise to serious and justifiable concerns up and down the country, in particular my constituency.

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