Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Do I take it that the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Deputy Naughten, will not appear before this House to answer a specific notice of motion I placed for the Commencement debate on the erection of wind turbines in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway? Do I take it that the Minister is not here? He was in Leinster House last night. I was in the same vicinity as he was. He did not request me to postpone this motion. The Minister can run, but he cannot hide, from this issue.

The wind turbines in my area will destroy our locality and it is up to the Minister to bring in guidelines. It is three years since this matter was at issue. I ask that these turbines would be at a distance equal to ten times the height of the turbine. The height of one of these wind turbines is 130 m and it should be roughly 1,500 m from any house within that vicinity.

The Minister attended a public meeting. He knows the issue involved. In protest, I will be re-entering this matter. I will pursue this continuously until the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is prepared to stand up to his responsibilities, both as a Minister and as a Deputy for the constituency of Roscommon-Galway. I will not allow the Minister to destroy our area. He has in his power the right to bring forward the new guidelines and those guidelines are being held up by him. I hold the Minister personally responsible for this issue.

In this issue, I am walking out in protest of the slight and continuous insult on this House. I have received no explanation from the Minister, Deputy Naughten, who was in the House last night, and I was in the House last night.

Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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To clarify, my understanding is the Senator asked for the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to attend. It was actually changed by agreement between the Minister, Deputy Naughten, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney's, Department. The Commencement matter states, "The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government" to attend. In fact, Senator Leyden wants Deputy Naughten rather than Deputy Coveney.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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No explanations required.

Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Leyden. That concludes this matter. I suppose there is not much point in the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, responding.