Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the fact that massive wind turbines are still being built across the country. They are up to 600 ft in height and are being built on sites very close to dwellings. They are being built using outdated 2006 guidelines that were designed to cover small turbines of less than 50 m in height. The way things are going, the Laois and Offaly area will soon become the wind turbine capital of the country. That is not an argument against wind turbines or wind energy.

I have been chasing the issue for ten years with five Minsters and three Governments. Some of my colleagues have also raised the issue. There are still no guidelines or protection for rural dwellers.

I brought forward two Bills on wind turbine regulation. I asked members of the Taoiseach's party to support them in the House. Only last week I received a reply to a parliamentary question that I submitted on the issue, which could have been written eight years ago. It stated: "My Department, in consultation with DECC, is endeavouring-----

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