Mr. Noel Cunniffe:

Perhaps colleagues can comment a little bit further but, from the outside looking in, we see general consensus that growing our electrical grid is vital for the country but, when it comes down to local politics and elections for TDs and local councillors, it is often challenged. It is part of our political system and needs to be taken into account but, as my colleague Mr. Moran has said, there needs to be a recognition that, if electricity infrastructure is not progressed in people's areas, they will lose out on opportunities for growth.

On the Senator's Mayo question, I am aware of numerous wind farms in Mayo that have planning permission to develop but the grid is not capable of taking them right now. They may be able to benefit from the private wires legislation I referenced earlier but continuing to grow, expand and develop our energy infrastructure is going to be vital, particularly for the west coast, to be able to progress. I say that as a fellow Connacht man.