John Kelly (Labour)

I call for a debate on two issues on which I have strong opinions. The first concerns our wind energy policy. I will not go into detail on that now but will do so when we have a debate on the issue. I ask for a debate on our wind energy policy because unless we shout "stop" regarding our current policy on wind energy and re-evaluate it, this country will have so-called ghost wind farms in the same way as we have ended up with ghost housing estates. That issue deserves serious debate in this House.

The other debate I call for is on the supposed independence of An Bord Pleanála. I call for such a debate purely because of the inconsistency of its decision making. I received a four page email this morning from a family which has been trying for four and a half years to get planning permission to build a family home. It has been granted planning permission by Roscommon County Council on four occasions in that four and half year period but refused on four occasions by An Bord Pleanála. The supposed independence of that body deserves to be debated. If we debate the issue, I will cite many incidences to show that An Bord Pleanála will make one decision today and a different one tomorrow in similar cases. The issue is worthy of debate.