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

I thank the Minister of State. I assume the White Paper will also cover aspects of retrofitting and maximising the efficiency of dwellings and businesses.

On wind turbines, in the absence of revised guidelines there is still a very great fear that the old guidelines are being used by companies that are imposing wind turbines on populations. I argued at the time that there should be a moratorium on the development of industrial scale wind turbine farms - I am not referring to individual or small numbers of wind turbines - until such time as the new guidelines were put in place. If we go through another episode of imposing unwanted solutions on a captive population, it will do a disservice to the development of renewable energy in the nation.

I am concerned to hear that there may be differences of opinion between the Departments of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Environment, Community and Local Government on, for example, set-back distances. Will the Minister of State comment on that aspect?

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