Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The climate action plan is being launched today. I have come across something that flies in the face of trying to get things done. There is a stand-off between local authorities and developers of solar and wind farms. When someone is trying to get a connection to the grid, it may have to be routed along a public road, possibly underground. However, before people can make an application for planning permission, they need a letter of consent from the local authority as part of the planning application. There is a stand-off where local authorities are not issuing these letters of consent. We have an energy crisis but the development of wind and solar farms cannot move ahead. This flies in the face of the climate action plan if we cannot get these public bodies to come together and find a solution.

See this speech in context