Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will finish on this. I imagine it should be imposed on the suppliers of electricity if this infrastructure is being provided on an all-island basis. The producers and the providers are the main beneficiaries because they will ultimately sell it to their consumers. These are the people who are lobbying intensively for this. They want it because they want to export electricity and are putting huge pressure on EirGrid and everybody else to get this built. I think there is a need for reverse pressure. If this infrastructure is built, what is in it for the State and the Irish consumer? To be honest, I am woolly about what is in it. There may be a benefit but all things being equal, there may not. If the price of Polish coal increases and Moneypoint has to increase its tariff, the response will be "sorry, lads, we could not do anything for you". That is not acceptable.