John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

We must look past that vested interest and put community, national and strategic long-term interests first for towns and cities like Waterford and Cork, the midlands, Mayo, Limerick, Shannon and so on. We will not sell out. People would like to silence us, but we will not be silenced. We have an expert in Senator Barrett, an independent and credible economist who has nothing to gain from his views. We do not always agree, but he speaks on behalf of the public interest at all times.

Public patience is wearing thin as regards the planning of wind farms. We need new statutory and binding guidelines that are coherent and consistently applied across the country. It would be timely to invite the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to the House in the coming weeks to announce the new guidelines.