Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Marron and her team for the presentation and I welcome Councillors McElvaney and Keelan. Last week we found out that while this charade was going on of making people feel good that every option would be considered, the proposal for the pylons had been submitted to An Bord Pleanála. People were wondering were they going to get underground or overground connections but the overground plan had been submitted. It was very wrong to do that to people. Deputy Conlan gave us statistics last week on what was needed in Northern Ireland. If they are correct I do not know why we are doing this.

If we are to get people working, we have to look at where we are going. I have called for a moratorium on the wind farms because I do not believe in them. We have signed up to things in Europe that have created 50,000 jobs for the Danes or the Germans but we are paying the price for it all.

The witnesses spoke about Grid West but it needs more undergrounding than is being proposed. People have spoken about overriding public interest. What does that mean? The phrase "imperative reasons of overriding public interest", IROPI, is used in Europe. In the west of Ireland, one cannot build a road because of do-gooders trying to stop one doing X, Y and Z. If the Government wants to persist with going from North to South and if, in the overriding public interest, it listened to the people of Monaghan and Meath, it would have to underground it. There are no ifs or buts about that.

If we place wires and pylons around this country - north, south, east and west - and find out in ten to 15 years' time that we have made a mistake because the British or the French can send us power at a fraction of the price, will we have white elephants around this country? Ireland must examine whether it is working and whether it is profitable.

I spoke to a person over the weekend who knows a bit about turbines. I asked this person whether it would be economical if I paid when I needed the power rather than when it was whizzing away at night when I did not need it. The answer was "No". There is a bigger picture. To grow a nation, we need business and to be competitive compared to the rest of Europe. We need to ensure that we do not bring about a situation whereby it costs businesses or people around this country more by putting in place something that we could buy for a fraction of the price in ten to 15 years' time. I am not saying I have all the answers but I would certainly like people to come up with the figures because then we can start making decisions. I support what the witnesses are saying but I am making it very clear that I will not be an admirer of wind energy around this country until I am proved wrong.