John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, as the line Minister dealing with this matter. He has been very receptive at all times on the issues and concerns I have raised with him about the development of wind farms across the country. He has met groups directly and listened to them. More recently while in Edenderry and Mount Lucas, County Offaly he stopped and engaged with people who were protesting. I share their concerns. We are not altogether convinced that the submissions and representations they have made have managed to penetrate the policy perspective.

I do not wish to be presumptuous, but it is my understanding that the Department may not have been represented at the wind turbine noise conference this week in Glasgow. I await the Minister's reply in that regard. I had hoped a representative of the Department, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government which also has a role in the matter or the Department of Health would attend the conference to take on board the latest scientific research and data in this sector because they are constantly evolving. It is a relatively new phenomenon as we have never had industrial wind farms of this size. It is my view and that of communities throughout the country that we should take a cautious and precautionary approach.

It is important to indicate that it is unhelpful that the State does not use the LAeq system for measuring decibel and noise levels, as happens in Canada, and Australia and recommended by the World Health Organization. There is an emerging body of scientific evidence - it is not hearsay - underpinning the view that increased noise levels for families living within a range of 2 km from industrial wind farms are at least a nuisance and can have a detrimental effect on their quality of life.

It is argued that the noise is not loud. However, just because we cannot hear it with the naked ear does not mean that there is no infrasound, a constant invasive and persistent vibration with which people have to live. There is no escape from it. It is not even wise to compare it to traffic and other background noises because there is no escape from a wind farm once it is established near one's home. The noise is most intrusive, invasive and potentially damaging at night time when all other background noises fall away. We were told in the past that cigarettes and asbestos were not harmful and we did not always know about the harmful effects of exposure to X-rays and other forms of radiation. I want to ensure that the concerns about decibel levels experienced by those who live in the proximity of wind farms are fully taken into account when the new regulations are introduced. It is more than two and a half years since Senator Kelly and I introduced wind farm set-back legislation and we have been awaiting publication of the new guidelines for more than one year. I would like to hear the Minister's opinion on the extent to which noise pollution and the potential health impacts will be factored into the guidelines.