Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the groups for their input into what has been a worthwhile exercise. I represent Dublin North West where we have had to deal with issues relating to mobile phone masts. Over the years rules were laid down regarding their proximity to schools, etc. I have also dealt with individual cases of pylons on estates and so on. In some cases, there was arcing and noise from the pylons, as a result of which many were raised while some were undergrounded. There are concerns in areas that are not affected in the same way as those the groups come from.

The main issues for all of us are health and safety, the visual impact and the impact on our communities. We do not know the cost of the project, including the purchase of land, nor do we know the cost of putting the lines underground or whether underground or overground is better in the long term. I do not accept the argument that the line is not traceable underground given modern technology can do so. When An Bord Pleanála is involved in projects such as this, local authorities do not have an input and significant expert knowledge and local knowledge on the ground is bypassed.

I refer to the use of the environment impact statements. They are used for most projects and they give a picture of their effect on the environment and so on. The European landscape convention was mentioned. Ireland has not signed up to it and that needs to be examined. The visual impact of these structures is significant, given their effects on communities. Perhaps the representatives have suggestions to work on.

One expert will say EMF emissions have an effect while others will say they do not. I have dealt with this issue on a number of occasions. Some evidence suggests they have an effect on younger children, particularly babies. We could bring in expert after expert but one will contradict the other. We must be careful about this issue.

I do not know whether EirGrid has considered the issue of the use of roads, paths, rail lines and undergrounding along carriageways and conducted a proper study that says these options should be examined.

I recently listened to a programme where landowners said they were conned into signing deals and they did not have sufficient knowledge about what was happening. Was this widespread? This is important in the context of future works. A number of the deals were for land that will not even be used for these routes. Compulsory purchase is a contentious issue. Are people concerned about this?

The consultation process is an issue and much more needs to be done in this regard because other countries such as France and Spain have investigated undergrounding. Perhaps more pressure can be applied to establish what has happened in other countries.

The committee is concerned that many submissions have to be made by 26 November and that was one the reasons we wanted the groups in to hear their views. There is no point in inviting EirGrid in when the consultation period is over. That is why we wanted to hear from people.