Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There are periodic reviews of the regulators. If it is determined or believed at any stage that the legislative environment is not adequate, of course, the Government can review it. If the Deputy has a view of a particular aspect of the legislation that he thinks is deficient, I am keen to hear what it is in order that we can debate the issue. However, I have no reason to believe the legislative environment in which the regulator is operating is problematic.

I keep hearing people say countries all over Europe are pulling away from wind energy generation, but that is simply not true. There are some countries which believe, understandably, that they have reached a certain level in onshore wind generation as a percentage or proportion of their renewables portfolio and that they do not need to, or cannot, go any further. I know that decisions have been made in the United Kingdom recently, but it is simply not true to say there is a generalised abandonment of onshore wind generation. I support the Government's onshore wind energy policy, but I remind the Deputy that the policy was put in place by the previous Government. It showed great foresight and I think we are right to carry it on.

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