Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I would not be too cynical about it.

There are at present no specific conditions in the legislation covering the distance from sensitive properties, including houses, at which wind turbines should be sited. I understand that the issue was considered when the existing wind energy guidelines were prepared in 2006 but it was decided that it would be impractical and inappropriate to set a minimum distance because distance alone does not dictate noise levels from wind energy developments. A wide range of other factors can also impact on noise, including background noise levels, topography, local climatic factors and type and height of turbine. A number of Senators raised the issue of valuing the beauty of places like the Cooley Peninsula, north and west County Clare and Connemara. That factor also needs to be considered. If a decision was made to legislate or to impose rigid criteria in respect of one of these factors, it would be necessary to impose binding specifications in respect of all of them. We should consider the practicality of introducing binding legislation rather than guidelines. I refer to guidelines rather than statutory instruments in this context because, as Senator Daly will be aware, guidelines are already in place.