Mr. John McCusker:

Good morning. I represent Comeraghs Against Pylons in County Waterford. The terms of reference and the responsibility of this committee to the Oireachtas and to the Irish people are to report on this project in respect of the expenditure and the administration of the project and its compliance or non-compliance with European Union treaties and directives, to comment on the detailed cost estimates provided - or, more specifically, not provided - and to advise on the project's value for money to the State.

A fundamental issue that drives the thinking on value for money is the need for the project. What is driving the need for this project? Does the committee know the real answer to this? It is certainly not the continued, practised PR mantra from EirGrid of "Keep the lights on." Has the committee seen a whole-life-cycle cost analysis to the value of €500 million, as stated by EirGrid? If not, why not? How then can committee members possibly comment on issues relevant to the terms of reference of the committee? If not, then the committee should insist on the immediate suspension of this project. We have outlined in our written submission 18 factors that need to be addressed in the whole-life-cycle cost-benefit analysis, and we would welcome some discussion on that afterwards. Putting the lines underground forms a major part of that discussion.

Another major factor is the impact and cost to our health services. The impact on mental health that this project is already having on Irish citizens and the taxpayer needs to be considered as a matter of urgency. Why is the Government adding further mental health pressures on its citizens for no reason? Once again, the Government allows the Irish citizen to pay the mental health price, while others in Europe get the benefit. Ultimately, the cost to the Exchequer and EirGrid of delays, delays and more delays that arise will be immense.

Committee members must realise that every euro spent by the Irish citizen objecting to this project is one euro less spent in our local shops, indigenous businesses or indeed saved in our banks to help the banks. Every euro spent by EirGrid on PR companies pushing this unwanted project on top of people is one euro less spent on our struggling health service.

Is that good value for money?

Now to European Union matters. Ms Fitzgerald spoke of open flouting of European Union directives on landscape. The precautionary principle is contained within the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This principle is being flouted by EirGrid and the Government. Irish health and safety regulations are being flouted. Within the precautionary principle lies a clear burden of proof, which means that EirGrid and the Government must now immediately indemnify the Irish people against all possible risks or harm they are enforcing on them. We still await this indemnity. The European Union's scientific committee on emerging and newly identified health risks has clearly stated that the health risks and concerns regarding electric and magnetic fields, EMFs, are valid, but this is being ignored and flouted. We all remembers issues such as asbestos and passive smoking. I have no doubt we may regret the failure to deal with the subject of EMFs in years to come. If we do not abide by the EU precautionary principle now and by our own health and safety regulations, we will be in serious trouble.

Be under no illusions that if this committee and the Oireachtas do not listen now to the calls of the electorate and the people to halt this project and reassess it immediately, the people will eventually halt it. Unfortunately, at that stage and perhaps as a result of the committee's inaction, it will have cost the Exchequer exorbitant amounts of taxpayers' money. This, unfortunately, will only remind the people of other failed State projects, such as PPARS, e-voting machines, decentralisation, Thornton Hall prison and, as recently as last week, the EU's instruction to terminate the contract for the Poolbeg incinerator. This is this committee's chance. It is up to it.