Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was asked about a particular incident in the jurisdiction and I have addressed that. If there is any basis on which my Department or I needed to intervene or take an interest in the incident outside the jurisdiction as mentioned by the Deputy, that could certainly be considered. However, the matter I was asked to address was the one in County Kerry.

I am aware of a small number - less than a handful - of reported incidents relating to wind farms. While all reported incidents in this jurisdiction should be assessed or investigated to identify the cause and any mitigating actions, given the number of incidents relative to the size of the deployed fleet of wind turbines across the country, it would be reasonable to assert, without displaying any complacency, that the technology is safe.

Wind turbines come within the scope of the machinery directive, one of the new approach directives transposed into Irish law through the European Communities (Machinery) Regulations 2008.

The overall objective of the EU machinery directive is the harmonisation of the essential health and safety requirements across all countries and jurisdictions within the European Union. The aim is to promote the free movement of machinery across the Single Market, while guaranteeing a high level of health and safety protection to workers and citizens.

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