Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach to the House and call Senator Ó Domhnaill.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, agus an t-Aire.

This issue relates to wind energy. I call for a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis for the taxpayer to be carried out on the wind energy sector, and more particularly on wind farms and the Government's proposal to proceed with providing 1,000 single turbines to generate wind energy in the midlands.

We have now learned that consultants will be appointed to assess the public consultation results. I am appalled that any Government would, following a period of public consultation, employ consultants to analyse the recommendations made by the public. Is the feedback not strong enough? I understand 35,000 public consultations on pylons have been received, another 7,500 consultations have been received on the limited review of the national guidelines on noise, separation and flicker and several thousand more consultations on the exportation of wind energy to the UK. If even 100 of the public consultations are read, it would become abundantly clear to a Department, Minister or Government that the public do not want the proposals, which the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in particular seems to be bandying around as a sure way of dealing with our Kyoto Protocol requirements.

If just 100 of those public consultations were read, it would become abundantly clear to any Department, Minister or Government that the public does not want the proposals that the Government - particularly the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources - seems to be bandying around at the moment as a sure way of dealing with our Kyoto Protocol requirements.

Wind energy has shown time and time again that it provides an intermittent supply of energy. This Government's reliance and determined approach to the provision of energy from wind is questionable, particularly in light of all the international evidence. I have copies of various papers that clearly show that the supply is intermittent. I do not have time to go into them tonight. The peak demand for electricity in Ireland varies across the year. The level of demand is approximately 3,000 MW in the summer and 5,000 MW in the winter. Some 1,880 MW of wind generation capacity is connected to the grid at present. Its output varies according to wind conditions. A new record for wind generation of 1,769 MW was set on 17 December 2013. Approximately 677,000 MW hours were produced by wind energy in December of last year. In 2012, an average of 15.5% of all power in Ireland was generated from wind sources. Wind energy has proven itself to be very unstable and unpredictable as a source of energy. Questions must be asked about the increasing reliance of Ireland's energy suppliers on such an unstable source. According to the Commission for Energy Regulation, just 43 MW of wind energy was produced during the week beginning 30 September 2013. According to the Government, a new record for wind generation of 1,769 MW was set on 17 December 2013. That variation of 1,725 MW on our grid represents more than half of our summer energy needs. It is clear that there are questions. All the international experts are questioning Ireland's over-reliance on meeting its Kyoto Protocol requirements through wind energy.

All electricity consumers, regardless of whether they get their electricity supply from wind energy or some other source, pay a public service obligation levy. It is as much as €10 per household in some instances. Therefore, every household in the country is paying for renewable energy sources. Much of that money is being collected by the Government and is going to major wind farm developments in the country. It is clear that questions have to be asked about this. The taxpayer is bailing out multi-million euro wind energy developments. An independent cost-benefit analysis is required at this stage. A Department that is headed up by a Minister who is clearly in favour of wind energy cannot be allowed to initiate any form of consultation. The consultation has to be objective and scientifically based. It must be removed from the Department and the industry. We need an independent assessment and cost-benefit analysis. Anything else is simply fiddling with the figures. It is time for such an analysis to be done. The taxpayer who is funding this train at the moment deserves clear and concise answers.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this issue. Ireland is fortunate to have very rich wind resources. We can exploit these renewable resources to generate electricity, reduce our import bills for gas and oil and contribute to decarbonising our energy systems. The exploitation of this clean, sustainable and indigenous resource will allow us to break our dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels and reduce our harmful emissions. It also holds the potential for Ireland to become an exporter of renewable energy. As Senators will be aware, Ireland has a challenging EU renewable energy target to meet by 2020, which includes meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. The deployment of wind generation to meet our domestic targets has already started to realise economic benefits. A recent survey of the members of the Irish Wind Energy Association indicated that some 3,400 people are employed in this sector.

Developers have made, or are making, decisions on their Gate 3 connection offers. The response has been very positive. Information from EirGrid and ESB Networks indicates that sufficient wind farms have accepted offers to connect to the grid to facilitate meeting the target of providing 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. The Gate 3 phase of group processing by EirGrid and ESB Networks has resulted in approximately 3,000 MW of wind generators accepting their offers to connect so far. When that is added to the current installed renewable generation and existing contracts for connection, it is clear that Ireland is on track to meet its EU renewable energy targets by 2020. There is significant work ahead in delivering the required grid infrastructure and developing smart grid solutions. A major effort and commitment is also required of wind farm developers to bring these projects to fruition. Nevertheless, this is a very positive milestone.

In addition to the figures I have mentioned, just over 2,000 MW of renewable generation is already connected to the power system in Ireland, mainly from onshore wind farms. In the electricity sector, it has been estimated that between 3,500 and 4,000 MW of installed wind generation will be required to meet Ireland's renewable targets, in addition to hydro-generation, bio-energy and renewable combined heat and power generators. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland produces an annual report on renewable energy in Ireland. This report examines the contribution made by renewables to Ireland's energy requirements for the period since 1990. In the past five years, renewable energy has saved over €1 billion in fossil fuel imports, has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 12 million tonnes and has not added to consumers' bills.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is completing a cost-benefit analysis of the export opportunities offered by renewable energy. In order to ensure Ireland continues to meet its renewable energy targets, while also ensuring wind generation does not have negative impacts on local communities, the Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are undertaking a review of the wind energy guidelines. This review will address the key issues of noise, including separation distance, and shadow flicker. Draft guidelines went out for public consultation earlier this year. The responses to this consultation are being studied with a view to finalising guidelines by mid-2014. The revised guidelines will apply to all wind farm developments in Ireland. It is important to note that any new wind farms that may be built will be subject to the Planning Acts, including the requirements for public consultation. Renewable energy policy in Ireland is developed on the basis of objective policy analysis, taking account of the views of all relevant stakeholders.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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I accept everything that the Minister of State has said. I appreciate that he is not responsible for this matter. It is the responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The draft guidelines are complete and are being examined by a group of consultants. It is quite outrageous that the taxpayer is having to pay for these consultants. It is a kick in the teeth for all the people who made submissions.

The Minister of State mentioned that the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is carrying out a cost-benefit analysis. The Department in question is flagging up our energy policy. It is responsible for ensuring this country meets the Kyoto Protocol requirements by 2020. It is flagging wind energy as a means of doing that. It is like asking a car manufacturer to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of the motor trade. It is completely crazy. It is not independent. I am aware of reports that have been produced by leading international experts on wind energy.

They are retired experts so they do not have any bone of contention or shares in any companies. I have read some of their reports and they conflict with this Government's view of wind energy. I think a more independent approach is required, which is why I raised the issue tonight.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for the points he raised. I will make two brief points in response to two key points he made. In respect of his comment about the role of consultants in the process being a kick in the teeth, I urge him to wait for the conclusion of the public consultation and the Government's response to it before he decides whether or not the role of consultants has been a kick in the teeth.

In response to his point about the Department being responsible for this, is it not the case that if the Department did not play a role in this, the Senator would say that it had abdicated its responsibility for the area? It is the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. It has a role to play in this. What it has done is put in place a consultation process, which it has outlined to everybody and in which a huge number of people have participated. It is reviewing that. As I am sure the Senator is aware, a further two consultations will take place. The Department is preparing a scoping report for the strategic environmental assessment along with a summary Department document on the stage 1 consultation. The stage 2 consultation will then be held and will offer everybody an opportunity to make contributions. After that, there will be a third consultation stage when a draft policy is clear.

The Senator is telling me that the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources should not be doing this kind of work but this Department has been tasked with making sure our country is energy-sufficient and can move towards energy independence in a way that meets the legal requirements the previous Government signed our country up to. A public consultation process is under way and I am sure the Senator will be commenting on it, as is his right as a Member of the Oireachtas. Given that his party and others called for a review to take place-----

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely - we support the Kyoto Protocol but we are questioning-----

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Before the Senator makes a judgment in respect of the consultation process he looked for-----

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is being flippant and selective.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am not being flippant.

Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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Allow the Minister of State to reply.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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To the best of my knowledge, we are having a debate. If the Senator is entitled to put points to me, I am equally entitled to respond, which is what I am doing. I am simply making the point that given that many were calling for a period of public consultation, let us see what the results of it will be before the Senator decides that it is not sufficient.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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While the taxpayer pays for millions of euro to be spent employing consultants just to read the documentation - my God.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am speaking to the representative of a party that has a track record in spending taxpayers' money on consultants that would put any other Government to shame.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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Not this one, unfortunately.