Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Continuing the theme of energy security and the development of renewable energy resources, it is critical that in seeking to develop our land wind energy resources, we do it in an environmentally sustainable way.

The ESB developed one of Ireland's largest wind farms in Derrybrien in the Slieve Aughty mountains of south County Galway. In 2003 there was a massive landslide associated with that development. There have been ongoing and significant environmental transgressions ever since, to the extent that since 2019 the European Commission has been fining Ireland €15,000 per day for those transgressions. We have paid a cumulative fine of €13.2 million. Recently, An Bord Pleanála refused what is essentially retrospective consent for this development. Do we intend to continue paying this fine of €15,000 per day on behalf of the ESB? Bearing in mind that An Bord Pleanála has refused consent, is this now an unauthorised development?

See this speech in context