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

Many countries in mainland Europe have been pulling away from wind energy generation which they view with a jaundiced eye at this stage, although we seem to be embracing it from a policy viewpoint. There are a raft of issues involved, with communities up in arms over it. Planners are now saying houses should not be built alongside wind turbines because such turbines are noisy and grant planning permission elsewhere. All things being considered, has the Minister factored what is happening in mainland Europe into his policy statement, the White Paper on energy? Given that many other countries are moving away from wind energy generation, should we not be doing likewise and look at alternatives such as solar energy?

The Minister mentioned the regulator setting the PSO levy. Is he satisfied that the Commission for Energy Regulation has the correct legislative tools to carry out its job into the foreseeable future? The commission was founded ten years ago, but is it not time to re-examine the legislation governing it? It should have new powers, not alone to set prices but also to reduce them.

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