Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have no responsibility in determining where any particular structures are located. I, and ultimately the Government, have responsibility for the energy policy of the country. It is my job to ensure we press on to achieve our renewable energy targets and climate change targets generally by 2020 in so far as they affect energy.

With regard to solar power, I have already made the point that I envisage a role for it. Since Deputy Tom Fleming and I last spoke about this, we have moved on it. There is a consultation process ongoing in respect of the kinds of refits or subsidies that would be appropriate for solar. I made the point to the Deputy that other countries regret becoming involved too early with subsidies that were too extensive. We could have and expand solar energy generation without necessarily affecting the individual consumer and customer of the electricity suppliers. We must have a balanced approach to this.

With regard to the wind energy guidelines, I said earlier when asked that the issue was to put my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, last week during Question Time. He dealt with it then and it is a matter for him but I have had contact with him and my Department has had contact with his Department. We have had good discussions on this.

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