In February 2012 I introduced the Wind Turbines Bill in the House and it was passed with flying colours. Eight months ago, as a result of the legislation, the Department decided, with the help of the Minister, to review the wind energy guidelines. Hundreds of submissions were made to it, mostly about the setback distance of wind turbines from family homes. The Department addressed the flicker issue in that it was stated the monstrosity would be turned off when there was a flicker. The noise levels were dealt with, but this will still prove contentious in that it will be a case of one man's word against another's. However, the Department did not deal with the setback distance. In 2006 the setback distance was decided based on the height of the turbine multiplied by ten. At the time the height of a turbine was 50 m. Turbines are now being developed that are 200 m high. Logic would dictate that these turbines should be 2 km from people's homes. Despite this, they are still set at 500 m. Not one metre was added to the setback distance after the making of hundreds of submissions. Everyone was listening to the departmental drivel that we would not reach our targets if the setback distance was 1 m farther than 500 m. I am sick and tired of listening to this. That information is being fed to the Department and the Minister by the big wind energy developers, nobody else.

It is said this is a local issue. However, between wind turbines and pylons, it is a local issue everywhere right now. We need to engage in cross-referencing with regard to the members of each relevant board. We need to ask who has been on the boards of SEAI, Mainstream, Coillte, EirGrid and An Bord Pleanála and determine where they have come from, where they have ended up and who is driving this project. The simple people are asking simple questions, but they are not receiving the required answers. That is not acceptable.

Yesterday I said in this House that we were creating another bubble. It is ready to burst. There is only one way to deal with it, namely, by way of a political decision. There is no point in waiting any longer for civil servants to solve this problem. A political decision must be made. The politicians who need to make the decision had better be aware that this House could be a very volatile place in which to be in the next couple of years.

Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir Kelly. Tá an ceart ar fad aige. He is absolutely right in what he is saying about wind turbines and I agree with much of what he has said in the past two and a half years. We need a serious review of policy in this area and a very serious debate on what is taking place, particularly on the membership of the boards of the various organisations he mentioned and the role the boards have played in the development of policy. This issue certainly needs to be scrutinised.

I commend all those who stayed outside the gates of Leinster House from 9 a.m. yesterday until 9 p.m. this morning to highlight the campaign for justice for the undocumented, supported by the MRCI. Many of us went out and spoke to the campaigners who were fantastic people. Considering they were willing to spend 24 hours in the cold outside the gates of Leinster House, it would be a great gesture and only fitting to have a debate on their plight at some stage.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing our Adjournment matter on the issue of An Coimisinéir Teanga to be raised this evening. I am still very disappointed that we have not had a comprehensive debate on it. My asking one question on the Adjournment does not constitute a sufficiently comprehensive debate, given the seriousness of the resignation of the language commissioner. I will not ask the Minister to be called in because the Leader will state he has told me a number of times that this will not happen. However, we have a facility-----

He will be here to take the Senator’s Adjournment matter.

A debate with all Senators present would be much more fitting, given the seriousness of the issue.

We can all attend the Adjournment debate if the Senator is so interested.

I will be very willing to share my time with the Senator if he turns up.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh to continue, without interruption.