Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The last report that came out said it would not be three times the cost but 1.7 times the cost and it stated that the two lines, Grid West and Grid Link, could be underground. When EirGrid was with us, we talked about the feasibility of construction from a technical point of view.

Certainly, what I got from that meeting was that it was technically possible to put the North-South interconnector underground. The point I am making is that I think people accept the need for the North-South interconnector. The biggest issue they have with it relates to how it is going to be constructed within the environment - the hills and valleys - that will be affected. If it is of such importance, maybe it is time we looked realistically at putting it underground.