I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the clear commitment in the programme for Government that wind farm regulation guidelines would be published in consultation with the public within three to six months. I understand there has been a European Court of Justice ruling which places an onus on the Government to inform the public in relation to energy policy. However, I now understand that the guidelines have been deferred again because of that ruling. In the meantime, corporations in my constituency in Offaly and in north Tipperary are being given a free run and that is not right. Citizens are not being listened to, which is another example of the Government treating citizens in rural areas as second-class citizens. Their voice is not being heard and no respect is being shown to them. When will the public consultation commence and when will the guidelines be published? In the meantime, I call on the Taoiseach to take urgent action because it is incredibly unfair that a person can run the risk of having a wind turbine 500 m from his or her house. That is unacceptable.

I do not accept the Deputy's premise that people living in rural areas are treated as second-class citizens.

How would the Taoiseach know?

We have just published the major programme for realising the potential of rural Ireland which draws together all of the various programmes from the Common Agricultural Policy, local authorities and regional authorities to help everybody to be able to benefit from that. Part of the programme includes the direction from the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to have 135,000 jobs spread to the regions between now and 2020. An examination of what kind of country we will have in 20 years time is now being conducted by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. There is public consultation about where major roads should be, growth in towns, where people will live and the kind of energy we will have, among other issues.

In respect of Deputy Nolan's point about wind turbines, this is still a matter that is being considered between the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I accept the Deputy's point that it is important that people's views are taken into account, but it is also important that there would be an effective, practical working arrangement. I hope that can be expedited.

The Deputy is aware the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, had an accident which resulted in him being laid up for some time. He is back in action again but it took a few weeks out of his schedule.

That concludes questions on promised legislation. My apologies to the four Deputies whose questions were not raised today. We will try to get them in tomorrow.