Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with those who spoke about the Central Remedial Clinic. All I will say is that the board should resign immediately. Yesterday's committee hearing lasted five hours. What went on was despicable.

I hope there will be a debate on wind energy in the near future. An article written by Colm McCarthy for the Irish Independent was quoted at length in the Chamber yesterday. I read the article. Everybody, whether supporting or opposing wind energy projects, should make a submission to the consultation process. The process should be advertised in the newspapers. I have a problem in that it deals with noise, flicker and distance. A report on the economic factors has been commissioned but it has not yet been published. The question arises of whether it makes economic sense. All of those who spoke today expressed negative opinions about wind. One could say I am fine because I live in Dublin but the community has a major role to play in this matter. A person who was asked if he would like to live beside a wind turbine said "No" but he went on to say that he would not mind if it was located a certain distance away. The environment, the economy and communities should be our first priorities. Communities have to be given the facts. A new type of turbine has been developed that when hooded can increase wind capacity by 15% and reduce height by 50%. All of those factors should be in the open. Half-baked submissions will be made if the consultation is not publicised. The subsidies that wind energy companies receive should also be published. I will read the submissions but I call for the economic report to be published. I will quote what Colm McCarthy wrote in his article.