Windfarm bill to be debated in early May

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, TD, announced this morning that on May 6/7 the Environment And Public Health (Wind Turbines) Bill 2013 will be debated and voted on during technical group private members time in the Dáil.

He said in a statement: “Recent government announcements that they have abandoned plans to cover the midlands with windfarms for Britain are nothing more than a scam to get them over the hump of an election.

“The bill, which is a replica of one introduced in 2012 by Deputy Willie Penrose, TD, will at last give members of Dáil Éireann the chance to nail their colours to the mast on this issue.

“The main purpose of this bill is to ensure that wind turbine developments are pursued without exposing people in their homes to adverse health effects and to ensure that there is suitable community consultation and participation in windfarm development planning.

“Given that this bill was originally put forward by a sitting government member I would expect that on the May 6 we will have at least one of them supporting it.”