Mr. John McCusker:

We have clearly outlined that the public consultation thus far has been flawed so EirGrid should be asked to stop the project form proceeding. The groups should then be asked to contribute to defining terms of reference of public consultation and what the public consultation should entail. It is not for us, as simple citizens, to tell EirGrid as a semi-State body how it should conduct its business. The Government should assist in that. We are quite happy to agree terms of reference of public consultation. Once those terms of reference and the issues associated with public consultation are agreed, then the consultation process can start. Fundamentally as the existing process is flawed, it has to stop immediately and a new format needs to be agreed.

Mr. Moloney said that the local authority members were all aware of these projects. EirGrid has stated in documentation that local authority members, Deputies and Senators were all issued with a documentation pack at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the process. That includes everybody in this room, effectively. It is only when the public bring these matters to the attention of the elected representatives that their ears prick up and they start to get interested. The electorate then bring these issues to the public representatives and not the other way around. I would be interested to hear what the committee members have to say about the documentation packs they received. Will the committee make a submission to EirGrid by 26 November on the basis of what the members have heard today?