Wind farm legislation and climate targets
Deputy Troy asks whether Seanad wind-farm legislation will reach the Dáil and seeks details of consultation amid concern about midlands developments. The Taoiseach says it is a Private Members’ Bill and reiterates the Government’s separate climate legislation timetable and departmental roadmaps.
Two weeks ago, in light of the huge uncertainty among residents in the midlands region regarding the impending industrial wind farms in a residential area, I asked whether the Taoiseach could confirm whether the wind farm legislation initiated in the Seanad will come before the Dáil. What level of consultation has the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, held with his counterpart in the United Kingdom? Has the Minister met the commercial companies in this regard? Earlier, my colleague, Deputy Ó Fearghaíl asked about the climate change Bill and the Taoiseach indicated it would come before the Dáil in March 2013. Will this issue be dealt with by way of the climate change Bill? Will the issue be dealt with under the auspices of the structural roadmap the Taoiseach has asked each Department to submit to him? How does he propose to deal with this issue to alleviate the fears of the people living in the midlands.
Comment on this
The Bill to which the Deputy referred in respect of wind farms was a Private Members' Bill. What I stated regarding the climate change Bill was that the legislation is due before the end of next year but that each Department has been required to send in sectoral roadmaps by March of next year as to how they intend to deal with their contribution towards meeting the targets for 2020, which have been negotiated, signed off on and agreed by Ireland and other countries.