John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach said this week that he would like to think that we would learn from the situation in Rossport. I would also like to think that we would learn from it. However, there is no evidence in the planning process that we are. Only this week, An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision of Offaly County Council and Laois County Council to grant planning permission for gigantic and monstrous industrial wind farms in Rhode, County Offaly and Cullenagh Mountain in Ballyroan, County Laois. What is the point in a planning process when the decision of the inspector of An Bord Pleanála recommending refusal of permission can be overturned by the board of An Bord Pleanála? The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government promised that new planning regulations and binding statutory guidelines for the development of wind farms would be introduced. A year on, we are still waiting for them.

Last week, Senator Barrett exposed a further fraud that is being perpetrated on the Irish taxpayer and people in terms of the energy regulator moving to increase the subsidy to wind farm developers by 50%. This is not cheap or free energy; it is the most expensive energy. It provides no economic or environmental dividend.