Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Regional Group for making such a comprehensive and forward-looking proposal on the real possibility of developing our offshore renewable energy resources. The proposal is visionary, but down to earth at the same time. It is visionary in that any proposal to develop more than 70,000 MW of offshore renewable energy, which would not only eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels as a nation but allow us to export huge quantities of energy to the EU, is a mega project. Equally, it is down to earth in that we know it is possible and feasible and has great potential, but we need to put the necessary agencies in place with the remit to deliver a fully co-ordinated national plan. This will involve research and design, supply chain development and management of the process from initiation to delivery. I acknowledge it sounds a bit much, but this could be our Ardnacrusha moment if we recognise our potential to transform how we develop our renewable energy resources and act on that recognition.

One aspect of this project must be that there will be community buy-in and real community benefit. By the latter, I do not mean an attempt to buy off communities. I have seen, and am still seeing, those attempts to bribe communities by promises of short-term gain instead of a continuous, stable benefit to local communities. There must be no windfall gains but a plan-led, not developer-led, model of development. Our offshore wind resources can be to Ireland what oil has been to communities, especially coastal communities, in Norway. We need the State to take the leading role here. Time and again, I have seen the negative impacts of exclusively private sector, profit-driven models on the building of infrastructure, from homes to onshore wind turbines to broadband. A project such as this would impact on generations to come and must be State led. Offshore renewable energy must be the primary source of our wind energy.

There have been so many negative experiences throughout the midlands and now in County Leitrim, where there are two proposals on how wind turbines should be positioned for onshore wind generation. Less than two weeks ago, I raised with the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, the issue of the siting of two different wind farms on mountainsides and, largely, on peaty soil in County Leitrim. We still await the publication of the wind energy guidelines, which we are told will give due regard to local communities and individual families within the vicinity of turbines, yet the applications for wind farms keep coming. As long as there are no guidelines, it will be simply the same free-for-all. It is no wonder we get it wrong again and again, just as we are getting it wrong at Croagh wind farm, near Dromahair, and at Dough in Manorhamilton. I have stood at the back door of somebody's house looking up at the side of a mountain less than 1 km away, where it is proposed to erect a 185 m monster wind turbine. To give some context, that is twice the size of the Statue of Liberty. This is how wind policy is being planned and delivered right now. It alienates and divides communities.

The proposal from the Regional Group is visionary but has real, down-to-earth potential.

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