Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Senator O'Loughlin as today's Acting Leader. I followed some of today's debate from my office. It was interesting to hear the take of three Government Senators, all from Galway, in regard to the Galway ring road. It shows there is always a tension and a dynamic at play in government, which we are beginning to see played out on the floor of the Seanad. I respect the Senators are from three different parties. Senator Crowe made the most valid point when he spoke about what had been signed up to, published and agreed. As time moves on in the evolution of this particular Government, that seems to be a bit frayed. It is an interesting space to watch.

I, too, raise the issue of Galway, in particular Galway County Council and the refusal of An Bord Pleanála to consent to a wind farm in the Slieve Aughty Mountains in County Galway, which is a beautiful place. I visited it very recently with Independent councillor, Geraldine Donohue, who lives close by and represents that area and I heard first-hand the concerns of the people there. I understand their concerns. Galway County Council told the ESB to seek substitute consent, effectively retrospective compliance with the EU directives and environmental impact assessments. An Bord Pleanála has refused to grant a substitute consent for the 70 turbines at Derrybrien wind farm development at the Slieve Aughty Mountains in Galway, which was built and operated by a subsidiary company of the ESB. The State has now amassed fines of €17 million related to the wind farm, the European Court of Justice having found the development to be in breach of environmental safeguards and regulations in regard to the construction of wind farms.

I will park all of that and move a little further down into County Clare where, again, Government party members are opposing a wind farm. There is an inconsistency of policy. Can we have a debate on the guidelines on energy to be published because this seems to be the kernel of the issue?