Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the little time available, I am happy to speak on the motion. I am all for discussion. Regardless of whether I am in full agreement with the Bill brought forward by People Before Profit, I do not believe the Government should continue to stifle the opportunity for discussion. There are two sides to every argument. I come from rural Ireland where there is a need for tractors, lorries and so on. We need our diesel and other fuels. I come from a community where there is little or no planning regulation in respect of solar farms or wind turbines. Planning permission had been sought for many solar farms in Bandon, Kinsale and other places in west Cork and there has been no planning regulation whatsoever. This is awful for people who will now have to have solar farms outside homes and properties for which they may have paid a great deal of money. It is the same situation with wind turbines. We need these in certain places but there has to be proper planning regulation.

There are many other issues I would like to discuss. Perhaps if we had a more detailed debate-----

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