Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I would appreciate it if he could come back with a direct and definite answer on the interdepartmental engagement. The Minister of State mentioned that step in the process. I would like to know when it will finish so I can inform my constituents what is happening and give them some idea of the position on both the process and dates. The affected communities are experiencing genuine difficulty at pre-planning stage, on which stage the objections of local communities are routinely ignored. There seems to be a charade of compliance and meaningful consultation but, really and truly, communities are not falling for this. They need certainty and definite and strong protections.

Wind energy developers say they have been committed to implementing the current code of practice, which emphasises full and transparent engagement with local communities. This, however, is not the experience of many communities, which feel powerless in the face of the commercial power of the companies. Therefore, there has to be an urgent approach to producing the draft guidelines. What has been happening has been going on for years, and it must not go on any longer.

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