Ms Deborah Meghan:

As discussed earlier, there is a roadmap which lays out the consultation process. The North-South interconnector project has been ongoing since 2008. Following the application in 2010, we sought to re-evaluate all of the work that had been carried out since 2008. There have been a number of different reports on the matter, including by the independent expert commission and the Government in terms of its policy statement on energy. In 2011, we published a preliminary re-evaluation report on the North-South project, which went to public consultation for the purpose of feedback on all work carried out to date, including work that had been part of the previous planning application. Since then, we have published a final re-evaluation report, taking on board the feedback received on the preliminary report. The final report also went to consultation for a number of days, including on our website and by way of online telephone calls. This summer we published a third report, which is our preferred project solution report, which again identified the design as it has evolved. It too has been put out for consultation.

We have received a great deal of feedback on this project, which we hope to take on board so that we can complete the process and bring forth a planning application. There has been a significant amount of consultation. There are challenges and obviously concerns have been concerned by the general public. However, when decisions are made information in that regard is presented to the public for feedback and consultation.