NEWLY appointed Independent Alliance minister for Climate Change and Natural Resources Denis Naughten has started his tenure by indicating he is keen for public consultation on wind farms.
Mr Naughten, TD for Roscommon-Galway, which has seen bitter opposition to the building of wind farms in the constituency, said he understands that people have objections to the turbines.
The minister told audiences at series of functions in his constituency that he wants to see further public consultation on the issue, saying he wants to see additional options looked at it so that other "energy solutions" can be brought forward.
Mr Naughten, said the government needed to develop more options alongside solar and wind, but promised to work with the ESB, Bord na Móna and Coillte to maintain employment levels and drive the climate change agenda.
Turbines have been key to the Republic's climate-change policy, despite rural dwellers concerns they cause health problems.
Last year, 23 per cent of electricity was from renewables - four fifths coming from on-shore wind.
Mr Naughten, the first cabinet minister in 30 years from the constituency, had been a Fine Gael TD before the party whip after voting against the government on the downgrading of local hospital services.
