Mr. Owen Bannigan:

A question was directed specifically to me. I am not aware of any additional high voltage projects applying for funding. I am aware of all the Grid25 projects and this one we discovered last month in the most up-to-date European list. I am not aware of any more.

If there are, we would be delighted to hear about them.

On the environmental impact statement, EirGrid is required by law to carry out an environmental impact assessment. In this regard, the board decides what issues need to be examined. This process is currently under way. While the board is required to make its decision in terms of screening by 21 December as we understand it the environmental impact assessment has been already concluded, which raises many questions.

A consultant hired to do a particular job does that job to suit the person paying. While it is up to local communities to oppose an environmental impact assessment they only get first sight of the assessment after the planning application has been lodged. This means they have only six weeks within which to make a submission on it. We have been engaging with EirGrid about this project for the past six years. This process may not be completed within ten years. I do not have a great deal more to say about environmental impact statements. What is required to addressed by way of an environmental impact statement has been updated in law and will shortly be amended at European level. Whether or not this will be in the best interests of communities we do not know. However, I believe it will be. We will have to wait and see.

On public acceptance and consultation in terms of what would be acceptable to communities, the current system is flawed. The reason it is flawed is because the public no longer has any confidence in EirGrid. It will not answer questions or provide the information required. Without public confidence in a process there will never be public acceptance. The challenge for legislators and EirGrid is to gain public confidence. The Government's policy document states that the fundamental part of the development of these energy projects is community acceptance. We are further away now from community acceptance than we were in 2010. We are moving in the opposite direction.