Claims SDLP and SF opposed wind farms in Derry & Strabane rebutted by Durkan during Stormont debate
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00:00The SDLP have repeatedly repeated those words, that there's serious opposition in this House.
00:06Yet the SDLP, and in support of Sinn Féin at the time, in the very place where the planning
00:12controls are held, are upheld, recently voted against renewables in Derry and Shriban Council.
00:20That the policy would reaffirm its presumption against wind farms was the title of the motion
00:26that the SDLP supported, therefore against renewables. So yet in this Chamber, in front
00:32of the cameras and for everyone to see, they raise concerns about the rate of renewables growth
00:36and what the executive parties are doing to do it and do about it. But when it comes to the place
00:41where they're not in opposition but they're actually in control of and control of planning
00:45policy, they oppose it. And I will give way to any of them if they want to explain how in here they
00:51say one thing and they say something different in the place where the planning conditions and
00:56planning things are held.
00:57Apologies for not being quicker to respond when his colleague invited it. I was just
01:04digging out the piece to which he referred, wherein council in Derry, City and Shriban
01:09Council, voted a presumption against any developments unless they would not
01:14adversely impact or erode the intrinsic appeal of the AONB. Now Alliance don't have any
01:20councillors in Derry and Shriban, but they do have power in DERA. Can the Minister tell me if
01:26his party colleague, Minister for Agriculture and the Environment, will be changing DERA's
01:32approach to planning applications in AONBs?
01:37And the Member has an extra minute.
01:39I'm not quite sure where that introduction came from to me. Again, I'm not the Minister
01:43for the Environment. I'm sure the Minister, I'm sure the Member could raise that
01:48by various means rather than interjecting. But anyway, we'll carry on.
01:52The North West, with its rich wind and tidal resources, should be leading the way. Offshore
01:59wind in the North Channel, tidal energy along the Donegal coastline, and solar expansion
02:05in rural areas will create a thriving renewable hub. Investing in infrastructure at Lysa Halley
02:13Port, for example, expanding supply chain capabilities, and supporting Magee and North
02:18West Regional College in training the workforce of the future would establish DERA as a key
02:24player in the green economy. This is a chance to reverse years of economic neglect.
02:30Meanwhile, planning remains one of the biggest obstacles to progress. Wind and solar projects
02:35are stuck in the system for years, while offshore development is held back by outdated policies
02:41and bureaucracy. The Department for Economy and the Department for Infrastructure must work
02:47together to streamline approvals and ensure clear timelines for projects. Sony has repeatedly
02:54warned that the current developer-led grid approach is inefficient and costly. We need
03:00a plan-led system that expands grid capacity proactively rather than reactively. A key part
03:06of this is the urgent need for the second north-south interconnector, which may be installed
03:11and may not be completed until 2031. This delay is unacceptable and risks having a devastating effect
03:19on our energy security. Of course, planning reform must be responsible and consider local
03:24communities, but we cannot let endless red tape hold back progress. The people of Northern Ireland
03:30are behind us. Only 5% of those polled in Derry oppose the 80% renewables target,
03:37while 72% believe their council is not doing enough to promote renewables.