Fennelly report and wind guidelines
Seán Ó Fearghaíl asks about publication of the Fennelly report and progress on wind-farm guidelines, alongside another promised Bill; the Minister provides no report date, says the guidelines remain under review, and gives a date for the consumer-protection Bill.
On 8 April 2014 the Fennelly commission was established. Media reports over the weekend suggested the commission will shortly distribute preliminary reports to interested parties. The work of the commission is extremely interesting, not least given the fact the House will move today to establish another commission of investigation. When can we expect to see the Fennelly report published?
I want to ask about the regulations and guidelines being devised by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in respect of wind farms. I understand work is going on between the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. As we speak, applications are being made to An Bord Pleanála under the strategic infrastructure Act which are quite clearly premature in circumstances where the guidelines are not in place. Will the Minister tell us about that?
Finally, on this, the fourth anniversary of the death of the late and, indeed, great Brian Lenihan, I ask what is being done by the Government in respect of the promised legislation on the sale of loan books, that is, the consumer protection Bill that was promised some time ago.
Comment on this
To take the questions in reverse order, Report Stage of the Bill to provide consumer protection on the sale of loans will be taken next week. The review on the guidelines in respect of wind farms was commenced in 2013 and I understand the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources are considering that review at this point. I do not have a date as to when Mr. Justice Fennelly will complete his work and publish it, so I cannot offer the Deputy information on that.