Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, agus an t-Aire.

This issue relates to wind energy. I call for a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis for the taxpayer to be carried out on the wind energy sector, and more particularly on wind farms and the Government's proposal to proceed with providing 1,000 single turbines to generate wind energy in the midlands.

We have now learned that consultants will be appointed to assess the public consultation results. I am appalled that any Government would, following a period of public consultation, employ consultants to analyse the recommendations made by the public. Is the feedback not strong enough? I understand 35,000 public consultations on pylons have been received, another 7,500 consultations have been received on the limited review of the national guidelines on noise, separation and flicker and several thousand more consultations on the exportation of wind energy to the UK. If even 100 of the public consultations are read, it would become abundantly clear to a Department, Minister or Government that the public do not want the proposals, which the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in particular seems to be bandying around as a sure way of dealing with our Kyoto Protocol requirements.

If just 100 of those public consultations were read, it would become abundantly clear to any Department, Minister or Government that the public does not want the proposals that the Government - particularly the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources - seems to be bandying around at the moment as a sure way of dealing with our Kyoto Protocol requirements.

Wind energy has shown time and time again that it provides an intermittent supply of energy. This Government's reliance and determined approach to the provision of energy from wind is questionable, particularly in light of all the international evidence. I have copies of various papers that clearly show that the supply is intermittent. I do not have time to go into them tonight. The peak demand for electricity in Ireland varies across the year. The level of demand is approximately 3,000 MW in the summer and 5,000 MW in the winter. Some 1,880 MW of wind generation capacity is connected to the grid at present. Its output varies according to wind conditions. A new record for wind generation of 1,769 MW was set on 17 December 2013. Approximately 677,000 MW hours were produced by wind energy in December of last year. In 2012, an average of 15.5% of all power in Ireland was generated from wind sources. Wind energy has proven itself to be very unstable and unpredictable as a source of energy. Questions must be asked about the increasing reliance of Ireland's energy suppliers on such an unstable source. According to the Commission for Energy Regulation, just 43 MW of wind energy was produced during the week beginning 30 September 2013. According to the Government, a new record for wind generation of 1,769 MW was set on 17 December 2013. That variation of 1,725 MW on our grid represents more than half of our summer energy needs. It is clear that there are questions. All the international experts are questioning Ireland's over-reliance on meeting its Kyoto Protocol requirements through wind energy.

All electricity consumers, regardless of whether they get their electricity supply from wind energy or some other source, pay a public service obligation levy. It is as much as €10 per household in some instances. Therefore, every household in the country is paying for renewable energy sources. Much of that money is being collected by the Government and is going to major wind farm developments in the country. It is clear that questions have to be asked about this. The taxpayer is bailing out multi-million euro wind energy developments. An independent cost-benefit analysis is required at this stage. A Department that is headed up by a Minister who is clearly in favour of wind energy cannot be allowed to initiate any form of consultation. The consultation has to be objective and scientifically based. It must be removed from the Department and the industry. We need an independent assessment and cost-benefit analysis. Anything else is simply fiddling with the figures. It is time for such an analysis to be done. The taxpayer who is funding this train at the moment deserves clear and concise answers.