Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will not speak about the appointment of Mr. O'Connor but his appointment was not greeted very well on the ground because the public perception is that his appointment has now weighted EirGrid against the community. As public representatives we find it very difficult to deal with that argument.

There is no confidence whatsoever in the public consultation process carried out by EirGrid. I refer to some of the comments from people whom I met and e-mailed. When they want to speak about the underground issue, they are being told, "You wouldn't really understand it". I do not regard this as an answer but this has been reported to me by people who are engineers and who are equally qualified in their field.

Is Mr. O'Connor in a position to give us a commitment that EirGrid will seriously consider an independent study of the cost-benefit analysis of overground versus underground? The question of whether the consultation process was good, bad or indifferent has completely moved on. The question now is overground versus underground.

We are hearing that EirGrid must upgrade the system and that this will mean jobs in major towns along the route. Now I hear that if we were to re-establish the sugar industry in Carlow, we will be unable to have a supply from this 400 kv line to supply a factory there. Why would the local people buy into the argument about job creation if we cannot get a connection? I do not understand that.

I reiterate the point made by Deputy Colreavy. Last weekend a leading economist questioned how this policy can make economic sense. We need to be given a position on that.