Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What I said related to offshore wind generation permitting systems. A recent analysis by the European Union estimated that it can take eight years from concept to get an offshore wind farm installed. The European Commission, in its REPowerEU plan, which was presented to the European Council yesterday, and in its communication to the Council, has said it is looking at introducing a regulation or framework that would enable national governments, with their local authorities, to fast-track their permitting systems, instruments or mechanisms to enable wind farms to happen more quickly. There is a bit of work to be done on this yet by the Commission but the concept of overriding public interest will prevail. There invariably are objections and tensions around some of the environmental concerns relating to wind farms. However, the overwhelming need to construct them in order to deal with climate issues will take precedence.

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