Mr. John McCusker:

It was brought to EirGrid's attention that it contravened the Aarhus Convention, which will be challenged. It is consultation if one thinks consultation is setting up a stall in a local SuperValu store for a few hours on a Monday or at the local animal mart for a few hours on a Tuesday. EirGrid did not arrive at 7 a.m. or 7.30 a.m. when the farmers arrived at the mart. EirGrid probably arrived at 10 a.m or 11 a.m. That is how the tens of thousands of people who live in the area were consulted. Perhaps that is good consultation to some but I do not think it was.

EirGrid, after the Waterford County Council meeting about advertisements in local papers, said it advertised and that is on the public record. EirGrid did not advertise and has admitted that.

It was clearly not a convenient time because a few information days were scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on a Monday afternoon when people were at work. Lunchtime or from 11 a.m. onwards would have been a more convenient time. There was no opportunity for people to get to the afternoon sessions held on a Monday because people look after children, pick them up from school, etc. Why not schedule information days on a Saturday or Sunday and at a time when people are off work and can participate in the consultation process? The consultation dates were strategically picked, timed and located.

I wish to make a point about visual landscape. I do not think people understand how tall the pylons will be. The highest structure in Croke Park is one metre shorter than a pylon. The pylons will be the height of 20 bungalows piled on top of each other. Can the committee picture that scenario? Can members picture the height of Croke Park?