Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Mulherin in her proposal to bring the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to the House in respect of the issues the Senator raised. There have been many projects which have failed to get through. It is unbelievable to think that a route cannot be found from Ballina to Swinford for a national primary road and that every avenue considered is closed off by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht because of objections for various reasons, including the presence of snails, mussels and Whooper swans.

I have also asked on a number of occasions for the Minister to come in. I have spoken to some people in the National Parks and Wildlife Service with regard to projects which have gone ahead after objections were raised in respect of the displacement of species, whether grouse, Whooper swans, snails or mussels. I wanted to see if there had been displacement and if the species did come back. I have first-hand information myself of a case in which a wind farm went ahead despite objections lodged about the displacement of grouse. I have seen where grouse are now nesting under the wind turbines. They have come back. I have asked that an investigation or assessment be carried out to see where there was displacement, if there was displacement, whether species have come back, and if there were any adverse effects on the environment. Perhaps an independent assessment might be best. Many of those projects took place more than 20 or 30 years ago so ample time has passed to see whether any displacement was permanent or whether the species have come back into those environments. I support Senators Mulherin and Feighan with regard to bringing in the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht because this is a very important matter.