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

The guidelines are important. There are constitutional issues in terms of property rights and what owners of property may wish to do with it. There is also the balancing of the effective use of solar power vis-à-vis the necessity of food security and food production. The area of the country Deputy O'Connor mentioned is probably the best agricultural land in the country. Anyone who goes to Ballymaloe will see a vast expanse of beautiful fields, land, tillage, production and so on. A balance is required in the aesthetics as well, in terms of how the country looks in the future. There is also the question of better utilisation of platforms for solar panelling other than green fields. I do not think the country would appreciate the entire green grass of Ireland, our 40 shades of green, being replaced with 40 shades of grey.

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