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

Please do. The main point is that we must develop offshore wind, which is clear. We want to reduce and eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. The most effective way to do that is both onshore and offshore wind, which we are both agreed upon. That has to be done in a regulated and planned way with inputs from all stakeholders, not least those representing our biodiversity. I have already spoken to the environmental pillar on the social dialogue and it made some very good, sensible suggestions as to how its inputs could be fed in at the very beginning on such matters. We will need wind farms, calls will have to be made in respect of decisions and these will be hard decisions.

Land use is key and a major review is underway in respect of land use in the country which will inform future practice in respect of the point made by Deputy Paul Murphy. Again, we have an agricultural model here and no one is forcing anybody into the model that we have. Food security is important.

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