Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also would like to welcome the witnesses here today. I understand that they are all lay people, trying to raise their families and live in their communities. They depend on governments to defend their right to live in an environment that is not a threat to their health. We have heard and seen excellent presentations, including the EirGrid document that does not mention the elephant in the room. We have had groups in front of the committee before, and it is a pity that the national group has not been set up yet, but we are where we are with that.

I believe the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has signed a memorandum of understanding with our British counterparts who will be served by these lines. During the lifetime of the last committee, we were supposed to visit underground sites in Europe. That never happened, although I think it should have happened because we are operating in the dark on this. I raised the issue at the last committee several times with the previous Minister, former Deputy Eamon Ryan, about putting them down with the motorways. Some of those roads were only being developed at that time. We were told that the cables would overheat. I hate to use the word "lies", but we have been told damned lies all the time.

We have seen that people are completely dissatisfied with the sham of a token consultation.

It is timely that we acted. Enactment of an EirGrid Bill is listed in the programme for Government and, therefore, we will have an opportunity to do so. I questioned the Taoiseach twice last week about its introduction and he said it is at preliminary drafting stage. There is time for all of us to get our teeth into this because the current legislation is not appropriate. Senator Landy asked who set up EirGrid. It was probably the previous Government and I have no problem with that but the company needs to be reined in because the legislation is inadequate in the context of respecting the people who elect all of us and whose rights are supposed to be fundamental under the Constitution. We have not had proper consultation either as public representatives. I visited the control room of EirGrid's headquarters when I was a member of the previous committee. It was a fascinating visit but it was never indicated that the lights were trembling and they could go off at any time. In all its press releases the company is saying the new project is needed to keep the lights on but that is not true.

The Minister told me privately there is an issue with the North-South interconnector and Northern Ireland is in trouble with it but let people get electricity from the providers there. Why should we feed the monster, whether it is Angela Merkel or our colleagues across the water, given they took enough from us over the years? It is time we asserted ourselves and defended our people.

Somebody should visit the France-Spain project. This is the first I have heard of it and I thank our guests for highlighting it. We are told we cannot do something like that because the line overheats and it is incompatible but I am not a qualified electrician.

I do not mean to sound selfish but I refer to the study that affects south Tipperary, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford before going under the sea. EirGrid staff refused to come to any of the meetings we held in Tipperary. However, I have asked them at public consultations why the line could not enter the sea off the Cork coast and travel along the Waterford coast to Wexford and their reply was that it was outside the area of their study. Did people ever hear anything like it? We had that option but it is no good to the people in the midlands or in Monaghan who are affected by the North-South interconnector. I support those in Monaghan because my wife is from there and I understand who they have been fighting for years. I salute the great work they have done. The groups are at different stages in their campaigns but we all have to stand together on this. If the EirGrid Bill were expedited, we could address this. The law is the law but this is a semi-State company and there is no doubt it will be sold off and privatised and we will pay through our ESB meters and the profits will be in someone else's pockets.

The World Health Organisation has highlighted that the precautionary principle must be observed to ensure the lines are not injurious and we must ensure they indemnify the people.