Environmental Policy
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-17
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Pa Daly (SF), Kerry

The Government gives the impression it is completely ring-fenced, but it clearly is not.
Apart from committing not to have any more carbon tax increases, because people in poorer households are suffering much more than others because of the carbon tax, will the Minister consider solar energy guidelines? I ask him to answer this question because we have not got an answer to it yet. We see what is done in the Netherlands. It has a solar ladder that prioritises rooftop, followed by urban and industrial land, then brownfield sites and then agricultural land as a last resort. There is a more plan-led approach in Denmark, underpinned by strong local engagement, municipal-led site selection and a long tradition of community participation. Some of the solar companies work much better than others with their community engagement. I see that in the various developments happening around County Kerry, but guidelines are needed, as opposed to having communities depend on industry-led guidelines that the companies themselves operate to varying degrees.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-17