Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps the Minister can update me on the opinion of his ministerial colleague, Deputy Alan Kelly, and when those new planning guidelines will be in place. Should there not be a moratorium until the new planning guidelines take effect?

I understand wave energy technology has developed considerably. What aspects of the White Paper will refer to wave energy? Has the Department or have the various stakeholders looked into the issue of biomass at Moneypoint or the future of Moneypoint as a power generation station? This is in the light of what happened in the United Kingdom where the Drax power station was converted and is now completely biomass fuelled.

I ask the Minister to update me on those matters, especially the planning guidelines. Where are they at and what is the position on biomass? How far advanced is our wave energy in view of the fact that we are nearly at saturation point in terms of wind energy generation at the moment?

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