New Cabinet minister Denis Naughten says further public consultation is needed on the issue of wind turbines.

Energy Policy Ireland

While Firefighters did attend the scene, there was no action taken.

Safety Structural Failure Ireland

Padraig Dolan of The Meath Wind Information Group (MWIG), the community-based organisation which successfully opposed the first application, said that when members of the public started to ask probing questions, a signal seems to have been given to limit the number of people allowed in.

General Ireland

The public interest in ensuring alternative non-carbon based energy sources are brought to the market cannot give this, or any other wind farm, “a licence to breach the planning laws”, he said. There is a public interest in ensuring those laws are adequately enforced and judicial failures to make mandatory orders may “dilute” effective enforcement.

Legal Ireland

The Supreme Court will consider a challenge against An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for an electricity-generating wind farm in Co Tipperary after ruling that the case raises issues of public importance.

General Ireland

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider a challenge to An Bord Pleanála’s granting of planning permission for a wind farm in Co Tipperary after ruling that the case raises issues of public importance.

Legal Ireland

In their proceedings, the applicants had sought to quash the board’s granting of a 10-year permission to ESB Wind Development and Coillte to build the wind farm. They claim the permission breaches the EU habitats directive and the EU environment impact assessment directive.

Legal Ireland

Mr Justice Bernard Barton ruled the permission must be quashed after finding that the process under which An Bord Pleanála had decided relevant issues concerning compliance with two European Directives - the Habitats Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive - did not comply with Irish law.

General Ireland

A challenge to a €120 million wind farm in Co Offaly by local residents – who claimed it would affect their mental health, property prices and the habitat of the Whooper swan – has been dismissed by the High Court.

Legal Ireland

“This information came from concerned local residents but there appears to be no official acknowledgement by the owners of the development nor has the Council or the HSA been informed. This is the usual sequence of events with turbine accidents and we have had a few in the County in recent years.

Safety Structural Failure Ireland

A number of investigations are believed to be underway after a blade on a huge wind turbine near Drumkeen “disintegrated” at the weekend. ...It is believed the turbine in question was struck by lightning.

Safety Structural Failure Ireland

In its decision, the board said it considered that a wind farm of the scale, extent and height proposed would visually dominate this populated rural area, would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, would interfere with the character of the landscape and would not be in accordance with the overall development objectives of the Meath County Development Plan.

General Ireland

One family said that the wind farm near Clonfert would result in constant noise, flickering as well as destroying their views. The turbines, they say, would also interfere with their internet coverage. The planning application is for a ten-year permission to construct a wind farm at Lisbeg in Clonfert.

Impact on People Noise Ireland

A planning application for wind turbines on a hill near Clonroche has led to concern that further wind farm developments will be built in the New Ross district.

General Ireland

A government minister has not ruled out moving people away from areas where wind farms may be built. Energy Minister Alex White says: "That has happened in other countries - I've seen that happening in other countries".

Impact on People Ireland

Nine controversial wind farms have been refused or blocked in the past 18 months because they were planned for areas which are designated as wild land. The developments would have seen more than 192 more turbines erected in some of the more remote and rugged parts of the country.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape Ireland

Lightning knocked out one of SSE's wind turbines at SSE's Richfield Wind Farm in Bridgetown during the run up to Christmas.

Safety Structural Failure Ireland

It is understood that the man had been working on the €145m Meenadreen wind farm extension project when the tragedy occurred.

Safety Injury Ireland

While Mr White insists Ireland has obligations to reduce its carbon emissions and must drive ahead with new turbine projects, Mr Kelly is under pressure to ensure communities can keep new windfarms at a distance from their properties.

General Ireland

But Mr Kelly said he is confident that the government will produce details of a new set back distance for wind turbines prior to the General Election. The new rules are expected to increase the minimum distance between turbines and private residences. The current distance is 500m.

Energy Policy Ireland