Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. O'Connor to the committee and wish to reflect on some issues raised in his presentation. First, a key priority of EirGrid is to operate a safe, reliable and economic electric system. Health and safety issues have arisen in recent months and more so in recent weeks. As Eirgrid's chairman designate, will Mr. O'Connor investigate these matters further since they have upset many people? Such issues need to be addressed further. EirGrid says it has investigated these matters, but I do not think it has.

EirGrid has done a lot of work on pyrite. I have been dealing with this matter and I am glad to hear that it will not interfere with EirGrid's work. Should delays occur with the pyrite legislation, are any provisions being made to ensure that there is no overlap?

EirGrid has consistently denied that upgrading the system is connected to wind energy. What is Mr. O'Connor's opinion on that?

The need for public consultation has been mentioned by many people. As regards the North-South interconnector, we have already dealt with such matters involving Cavan, Monaghan and Meath. We have clearly seen that it does not work because after five years of public consultation, including oral hearings, nothing had changed. The North-South interconnector is now at the final stage so what is Mr. O'Connor's input and how can he help in that regard? We do not need a review to see that it does not work, so we need to have action now.