Taoiseach responds to wind energy 'moratorium' suggestion from Kilkenny TD

A request from Kilkenny TD John McGuinness, seeking that Taoiseach and party colleague Mícheál Martin introduce ‘a moratorium’ on certain wind farm applications until such time as the regulations are updated was cast aside recently in the Dáil.

Speaking during a discussion on policy and legislation, McGuinness referenced a community meeting he recently attended in relation to the proposed Ballynalacken wind farm development.

“The community was forced to come together to fundraise and fight against the company making the application, which is well-heeled and well financed,” he said.

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“The Taoiseach outlined his position on this in support of communities back in 2013. Will the Government introduce a moratorium on such applications until such time as the 2006 regulations are updated and made available and the playing field is levelled? At the moment, communities are at a disadvantage.”

Taoiseach Martin stated that he was ‘not familiar with the full background of the specific application’.

“Obviously, I would want to be apprised of that in terms of what the issues are around planning and so forth,” he said.

“The Government will not be introducing a moratorium on onshore wind, however. It is just simply not in a position to do that given the huge pressures we are under in terms of the increasing prices, particularly of a predominantly fossil fuel-based model at the moment. That will continue for quite some time. We have to get more renewables.

“Hopefully, offshore wind will be the way of the future. We are hoping we can get the first offshore wind farms before 2030. That would take pressure off the onshore sector because there has been significant onshore development in Ireland, which is making a huge contribution to electricity generation.”

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