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“ANTI-WIND” COUNTY DEVELOPMENT plans, that rezone land allocated for onshore wind farm projects, are increasing the risk that Ireland’s renewable energy targets will be missed, the industry has claimed.
Wind Energy Ireland, a renewable energy lobby group, are calling on An Bord Pleanála (ABP) to make decisions in the context of national climate and energy security commitments and pleading with local authorities to identify suitable land for wind farms.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of the group, fears that the lack of progress on these applications could result in Ireland missing its 2030 onshore wind farm targets. Currently, he said, Ireland is on track at meeting this goal in 2044.
He is calling on Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to amend his action plan so that recruiting people with the expertise to quickly assess applications for renewable energy infrastructure to ABP is prioritised.
The group says that development plans in counties such as Laois and Westmeath are either rezoning land to prevent wind farms from being constructed or allocating land in unsuitable areas, such as in close proximity to homes or in areas with very little wind.
Justin Moran, the group’s external affairs executive, told The Journal that the group wants to see county planners and developers strike a better balance in local zoning plans.
While the lobby respect that county development plans hold “critical weight” in ABP’s decisions, Moran said that the national planning authority should also be required to uphold national climate and energy security commitments.
ABP said it cannot comment on the reasons why it chooses to reject applications.
Disputes over these issues have previously reached the High Court in attempts to overturn rejections.
A letter penned by the lobby organisation in 2017 highlighted how the space provided to developers in Co Laois’ zoning plan was significantly smaller compared to the previously drawings.
These spaces have since gotten even smaller in Laois, resulting in higher rejection rates across the county – including one case which was welcomed by Fianna Fáil TD for the area and Government junior minister Seán Fleming last month.
Fleming said while he supports renewable energy, and has approved of plans in the county in the past, the area included in the planning application for the wind farm in Co Laois was “not suitable”.
“This is good news for the local communities in the area and I would ask the developers to pack up their bags, go away and not contest this decision or reapply,” he said.
Moran stressed the need for local authorities to engage with developers so both parties can identify suitable locations for wind farms. The Journal has asked Laois County Council for comment.
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien earlier this month sought approval from cabinet to increase the number of planners in An Bord Pleanála (ABP) and announced an action plan aiming to increase the expertise within the authority.
The lobby group has said while it welcomes these changes, priority should be given to increase the number of planners with an expertise in renewable energy infrastructure with the national planning authority.
It argues this is particularly necessary given that only one planning application for a wind farm was approved during the third quarter of this year. ABP told The Journal that just two applications were made for wind farms during the third quarter, however.
Moran said that the pipeline of projects could increase as there are several now at the pre-planning stage.
He pointed to a backlog of 31 onshore wind applications which are currently seeking planning – representing approximately 18% of the required megawatts needed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy targets.
Moran added that any assessment carried out by ABP must be done “thoroughly and robustly”.
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Diane Dodds knows all about intolerance.
ya ask any GAY , Non-white or non Orange Order member
shameful act. intolerance…..is dodds gone dotty or what, the majority of protestant communities in the republic have very friendly relations with the catholic communities. much more tolerance down here than the backwater of the six counties
I’m Catholic, I attended a Church of Ireland school in Cork. It suffered 3 arson attacks over the course of a few years while I was a pupil there. The Gardai arrested one loony who thought he was taking on the British, in reality he was denying children their right to education. This may well be a one man operation by some sad case.
Absolutely Fintan, and I hope she is as quick to tweet or bleat, when those halls are re built with the help of the decent people of those two community’s, from all denominations. I guarantee there’s a committee set up already . Silly woman.
Always denying Martin.
small suggestion maybe read the article first…otherwise you look silly
Stupid comment
Being tolerant seems to mean having to put up with taking shite from everyone. Who cares if Orange Order churches are burned? What do people think they preach there? The same thing they preach in the mosques. Violence against these idiots that have let you into their country.
You cannot approve of been in any way tolerant at any rate
sorry i meant to say u cannot be accused of been tolerant in any way…or for that matter been overly informed…
1) Orange Halls are not churches but halls of an organisation that excludes … women, gay people, catholics and any protestant that is married to a catholic or who may even have been to a Catholic church for a wedding or funeral.
2) It is simply lies to say all mosques preach voilence
Excuse me, mister tolerant. I wouldn’t say there’s many that could tolerate you.
Evidence would appear to show different
Good man yourself John you bigoted fool
Go raibh maith agat ageing
Duck off Diane. I can already tell that you have nothing but contempt for us plebian paddies
Phillip…It is a post like yours that puts you firmly into the plebeian category.
Antonov, i suggest you do some reading on dodds
agh truth dont burst his bubble
Our republic is a bastion of tolerance when compared to the north miss Dodds
Couldn’t disagree more, we are every bit as intolerant and bigoted down here, the definition of Irish for a lot of people (especially on this website) is hating the Brits/Protestants, following Celtic and most laughingly of all, being a Catholic.
Mister loterio…. While both jurisdictions have their pluses ands minuses i must say from experience that tolerance is not one of the attributes of our northern friends…. Maybe you should spend more time here in Ireland?
Okay maybe our Northern brethren are ahead of us in the bigotry stakes, but the fact of the matter is that we wouldn’t win any awards down here for our tolerance, as I previously stated you would be immediately viewed with suspicion in this country if you happen to be British/Pro British/Protestant etc
Is that just your own opinion lothario?..I have family and friends in England who travel here regularly and never once did they experience anti British sentiment, in fact family members of mine have made their own circles of friends they have met while here and keep in contact.
The North is one of the most bigoted parts of the western world, never mind Ireland or Britain.
Look at all the attacks on people from different parts of the world, look at all the flags and death threats against people from all over the world around marching season.
Also constant orchestrated attacks on the offices of any political party who democratically votes against the unionist agenda. The silence from Westminster is deafening.
British and Protestant are not interchangeable.
You know feck all about the north if you think our situation is remotely comparable.The only place that challenges N.I. on the title for the Alabama of Europe title is Scotland.
where ru getting that from ? I do not not know who you must be talking to… even on here I cannot see any of what you post
Scotland is socialist SNP where it not New Labor. In Alabama they despise Obama care. Can you imagine a movement to throw out the National Health in Scotland ? You know nothing about Alabama.
stop digging Aging
What’s dodds on about there? “Another” shameful act! GTF!
While I’m no fan of unionism or the orange order i think it’s important to not bring ourselves down to their level of triumphalism and tricolor burning by celebrating their misfortune and giving credibility to the idiots who Burnt down this Hall
The more we see of McGuinness the more I like him.
Pity Gerry won’t shuffle off to retirement and let Martin have a chance at party leadership.
Martin would be a formidable and credible party leader if SF are to successfully campaign the next General Election.
I think martin would be a great leader. Can’t see gerry standing down though.
Yeah Gerry comes across a soulless calculating man who would defended the Einzgruppen and without a shred of compassion or decency. McGuinness just comes across as a decent enough chap with a sense of human decency.
I’d have a lot of time for Gerry in terms of what he achieved during the peace process talks. Without him there would be no GFA.
Gerry’s wasn’t the only signature on the GFA; there were actually other parties involved.
Hope none of the fire brigade were injured battling this blaze.
H……………unbelievable Diane, way off and wave your fleg!
It is embarrassing that people felt the need to do this. I usually look at stuff like fleg protests, flag waving, Twaddle, Drumcree, Pastor McConnell, homophobic first ministers and think to myself, well at least in the Republic we don’t have that kind of nonsense. Apparently we do.
Could be KKK themselves in a kristallnacht moment?
I hope the idiots that did this are caught both halls are only about 10 miles apart i live here and never had any trouble like this before so why now
Probably the KKK for the insurance, flegs cost a fortune these days!
Nothing republican about it. No republicans just busted into an orange Hall in Tullyvallen in 1975 and opened fire killing 5 people. Them republicans today just don’t step up to the murderous mark of their predecessors.
Have a day off fella.
There’s been atrocities on both sides. Its the past, and by the way you make me ashamed to be a utd fan. Lose the crest before you make idiotic statements
That was then. This is now.
McGuinness is quite right in his statement. Refreshing to hear such directness from SF leadership rather than the usual circular ambiguity from the great bearded one, hedging his bets with his supporters in the shadows.
@Adrian you are nothing but a disgusting excuse for a Unionist , but like many who are cut from the same cloth even trying to talk to you is a pointless exercise. Are you suggesting no unionist organisation has been responsible for any atrocities ? Am I to then refer to Things that happened 40 years ago and then apply it to all Unionists. Ignoring the fact that the fast majority of them such as is the case of Republicans are not violent and do not carry out these hate crimes. Maybe ill counter act your argument and go back 100 years when you British and yes sure I might as well say you and blame you directly for the British entering a sports even and opening fire on the crowd. Maybe I should just blame all of my issues on Unionists. It would be very easy to blame everything in life on the British or Unionists however I’m not that naive or brainwashed by the low lifes of my society. The problem with these guys that started the fire in Donegal is they are exactly like you and I mean exactly like you . Afraid to let go of the past and dedicating your time to a cause that the normal people of both sides of the border dont give a toss about any longer . So you go live your life under some impression that we are out to get you and when you turn hopefully 70+ years old and begin to think for yourself , the first thing you will realise like all those who came before you , it was pointless and a waist of time … Then you will try and convince those like you at your age right now and guess what they will simply ignore you . By the way I dont see anyone saying lets kill all brown people because they are all ISIS extremists either , if you want to make a statement try and make one that isn’t completely irrelevant
Points scoring again Gahan. Utterly despicable
Ado needs a hug !
Exactly, fair play to Mc Guinness, and I hope the bigoted lowlifes who burnt down this hall and worse still tried to burn down a church, are caught and dumped in the middle of the Shankhill Road.
How do you know it wasn’t young fellas just showing off trying to look “mad” after a few tins?? Just because it was used by the OO it had to be republicans? Your an awful narrow minded ape.
These bigoted apes knew exactly what they were doing, so you’re the ape pal.
since 94 that is all wrong apparently up to then kill as many as possible sure it’s grand.
My utd crest has no bearing on my arguments, if you can’t separate sport and political discussion then forget about it you fool.
Dublin jonny I stopped reading after your futile attempt to insult me. Nice of you to waste your time writing such a nice long response to me though.
Adrian I think you are suffering from the dunning- Kruger effect! Look it up and it might become clear to you, although I doubt it! Stupid people are actually too stupid to realise they are stupid and you my weak minded man fit into this category for sure!
Yeah I suppose anybody that criticises republican violence must be stupid or a troll eh.
You are a bit more than that, but obviously to stupid to realise it! That is the point!
u are wrong truth and very much mistaken Gerry Adams did it all…. Did you not know he shot Michael Collins as well and according to Bangers, Mr Rogers and Mr Gahan there is strong evidence that he killed Brian Boru too in 1014 and that Brudar was framed…..
ps do not tell anyone as Independent Newspapers will run with the story
So what should my stance be Cathal, do I just pretend that republicans murdered nobody?
could think of more deserving recipients
perhaps you mean executed or is that the preserve of British Forces , UDR etc
Being killed in the field is a lot different to being gunned down inside an orange Hall while unarmed. British soldiers were killed in the field and they also killed people in the field too, that’s war.
what you are saying is according to your own bias that whether somebody is murdered as distinct from executed depends on where they are or on what side of the argument they are on.
A “truth and reconciliation process” is long overdue
I disagree
As dio I with you…. at least you are to the point
Understood.
ps terrible choice of soccer clubs lol
Blasphemy lol
Your stance should be recognition that republicans and loyalists killed people and have a modicum of objectivity when you come on here spouting anti- republican vitriol! It doesn’t help and it really paints you as a bitter person who can’t seem to move on! This might go right over your head though because as I said, weak minded people are often too weak minded to realise they are suffering from Said affliction so you could be rather stuck!
I am a bitter person because I had people I knew murdered by republicans, I will never stop being bitter towards them.
Theres another thread here about bloody Sunday, many are posting criticism about the British army on it about an incident 42 years ago yet you are implying I can’t criticise a republican atrocity that happened after that?
I only mentioned that particular massacre because it was done inside an orange Hall, Mr McGuinness was a member of the group that carried it out and here he is condemning an arson attack??
Don’t try and tell me I can’t mention this incident, it’ll be brought up everytime I feel the time is right to counter SF hypocrisy.
PS i know both sides committed atrocities, anti British and loyalist comments appear on this site on an almost daily basis, you get to remind us of British and loyalist violence so I’ll do the same when it comes to republicans.
We are getting rid of that I believe the auld blasphemy that is not Man U
You say Mr McGuinnes was a member of the group that carried it out ? Could you clarify that please………….or back up that allegation……..while you are at do you think he was wrong to say the attack on the Orange Hall was wrong ? and by the way who qualifies to join the Orange Order
Not wrong, just hypocritical.
McGuinness was a member of the PIRA, claimed to have left in 1974 but still endorsed their campaign until the 90′s. The Tullyvallen massacre took place in 1975 and it was perpetrated by the PIRA, the same group that carried out the Kingsmills massacre the following year, that’s 15 innocent people butchered for religious reasons by a group that claimed to be non sectarian.
What’s the story with Donegal orangemen anyway?
Do they call themselves Irish? are they of plantation descent or Irish Gaelic?
Is there any other kind of descent, apart from plantation, when it comes to the Orange order? It’s not exactly something you’d convert to.
Or aspire to for that matter.
@Mick O’Neill. Would think the majority are Ulster Scots but a good number are descendants of local Gaelic clans.
Ulster Scots is a complicated title in that part of the world, there were Scots gallowglasses around even before the plantations, e.g. Campbells
No amount of whataboutery or ad hominem attacks on Diane Dodds can change the facts. Attacking the messenger will not falsify the message.
Of course it was wrong to burn down their hall, doing so sinks down to the level of hatred and bigotry that the OO practice daily. It was probably some local teenagers who did it, they probably see the hatred that the OO show every year for all things Irish and in their immaturity thought burning one of their hall was a good idea.
Martin states the orange hall was “a stones throw from his home in Derry…” unfortunate turn of phrase I’d say!
Good on em
Burn them all
Why do people do things like this?
Not a scene id be rushing to if I was a fireman
Back in the day what would he have used to burn down the building
Blah Blah and Blah same “sh*te” different article…. but back in the day,,, where you are stuck
It doesn’t matter what we do,these miserable DUP brain donors will always take every opportunity to demonise us.The OO receives annual grants and parades in the south have always passed off without incident but some lone nut burns down an Orange hall and that is the standard we are judged by.
While I deplore criminality in general, including destruction of property by arson, I find it difficult to sympathise with our very own version of the KKK, culture me arse.
There is nothing republican about murdering innocent people, but that never stopped SF/PIRA.
give it up Martin it was fair game before 94.
McGuinness should have left Sinn Féin years ago. He’d be more at home with Fine Gael.
lol at it isnt even the first of April not for a while longer anyways
Today is the day E=MC2 agrees with SF, that’s a first!
Well said Martin McGuinness.
Is annamh is iontach
Convoy is outside Strabane in Tyrone, Martin must have some arm on him to throw a stone that distance
I’m away, here comes Nonsense O’Neill.
But it’s true, look it up on google maps, Burt and Muff are outside Co.Derry, Convoy isn’t
poetic licence….. do you always take everything in the literal sense
have your say