Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. O'Connor. We are the only two Cork men in the room that I know of. It is unusual that there are not more of us. Can Mr. O'Connor expand on his previous experience in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, particularly in planning? Effective and meaningful consultation is a significant part of planning, including local authority or regional development plans and the spatial strategy. In previous generations, it may not have been such a key issue. I note from Mr. O'Connor's statement that during his tenure in the Department's planning section he put forward many innovative measures on policy and consultation. Can he expand on how that might be improved, given what he has heard about the EirGrid situation and what seem to be less than meaningful consultations with stakeholders and the communities involved?

When a community or individual consults with the process it is not just a question of listening and noting, but there should also be a written response. In his opening statement, Mr. O'Connor also said he played a part in introducing innovative policies to counteract social segregation in housing, reform building society legislation, the modernisation and consolidation of planning, spatial strategy and water legislation. Would that also include technological innovations? Technology in 2013 might have changed by the time a project comes to fruition in 2016 or 2017. Will Mr. O'Connor ensure that such innovation will enable EirGrid to use the most up-to-date technological advances? We have listened to some of the resistance to underground cables, for example.

Mr. O'Connor said he was asked to become the chairperson of the EirGrid board. He may now feel that he has accepted a hospital pass from the Department on this one. I have a concern which I hope Mr. O'Connor can allay. The current secretary general of the Department previously held the position that Mr. O'Connor also held in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government - that is, assistant secretary for water services. Can Mr. O'Connor deal with my concern about his tenure versus that individual's tenure in the Department? Did Mr. O'Connor know him or work with him professionally within the Department? What was the relationship and did he report to Mr. O'Connor's section? I would like to eliminate that concern of mine.