I know, but I am not doing the investigation. I cannot interfere, and nor should the Government interfere in any investigation of that kind. The investigation into that bog slide should be without fear or favour, because it is important. I acknowledge that.

Wind energy and renewables, both onshore and offshore, are key to the country's future. There will be a stronger emphasis on offshore over the next decade. However, a significant degree of onshore wind will still come on stream. There are quite a number of planning applications with An Bord Pleanála.

I do not accept the Deputy's basic premise. I am not quite clear about whether this is what the Deputy was saying, but he seemed to be strongly implying that the Government should intervene in this planning application or that the Government should intervene in planning applications now and then on particular issues. If that were to happen, where would it leave our planning system? First, from a legal framework, that position cannot be taken. At the moment, the Government cannot intervene in a planning decision or a planning application. We cannot adjudicate on it over the heads of the county council or An Bord Pleanála. That is what the Deputy is suggesting to me. The Government cannot do that and I think the Deputy knows that too. It may play well to a particular audience to say, "I called on the Government to interfere here and to stop the planning". I have heard that before on different issues. Those who advocate for that know damn well that the Government cannot interfere with the planning application or with the specifics of a planning case.

I will ask the Minister to check the timeframe in respect of the conclusions of the investigation. One would presume that the conclusion of the investigation would inform any future planning policy in the area. The county council has to take cognisance of any issues in the area. It should do so in respect of any zoning of the area for renewables or any future proposals. That is normally what would happen in a given area if something untoward happened, such as a slide, a collapse etc. They would check if the topography of the terrain or the geology was suitable for a particular development. However, that is fundamentally a matter for the local authority and the established State agencies to arbitrate on.

See this speech in context