John Kelly (Labour)

A pine marten.

I agree with Senator O'Keeffe that if we do not play our cards right we could end up with ghost wind farms unless we review the green energy policy as a matter of urgency. On the importance of the Seanad, I agree with Senators Bacik and O'Keeffe that this is the kind of thing we should be doing here. One Deputy recently said to me when we were discussing the future of the Seanad that if it was not for the Seanad the elderly people in nursing homes today who are long-term smokers would have to go outside the building to smoke. These were things that the Seanad found to be flawed - things that the Dáil simply does not have the time to discuss and trawl through.

Much is written about wind farms and I do not want to make too much noise about wind farm development. However, noise and vibration coming from large wind turbines are behind an increase in heart attacks, migraines, panic attacks and other health problems according to research by an American, Dr. Nina Pierpont. Kevin Myers has written many articles on it. The Daily Telegraph in Britain stated: "Denmark has long been a role model for green activists, but now it has become one of the first countries to turn against the turbines". Another headline in a British newspaper stated: "101 Tories revolt over wind farms". On 13 February The Daily Telegraph stated: "The National Trust [the equivalent of An Taisce here] comes out against the public menace of wind farms". We need a debate on wind energy so that we do not lose the run of ourselves.

I agree with Senator Conway's suggestion that 2 km should be the distance from residential premises. I reduced what was proposed in the UK to try to get people to meet us half way. My approach was not that because the UK wanted 2 km or 3 km we should go with 4 km. I reduced the distance considerably to try to get the Government to buy into this.

It is very important that anybody who has not done so should stand beside a wind turbine. While it is grand looking at them from a car window, I can tell Senators what it is like standing beside them. If Senators look out the window they will see a big tree but it is possible to see the big building behind it approximately 200 m away. If a wind turbine were placed there and I looked out the window all I would see would be the wind turbine and would no longer see the building. That indicates the scale of these huge wind turbines, beside some of which I have stood.

I am amused by the suggestion of Senators Daly and Leyden that this is dead in the water. I know a councillor who keeps reminding me that governments come and go, but the real government is still there - meaning the Civil Service. I would be delighted to see where this goes from here. Along with other Senators we will keep our eye on this issue and will push it because it is important to respect people's human rights.