Ms Deborah Meghan:

In regard to infrastructure, our powers are often compared to those of groups like the NRA involved in road construction, but electricity infrastructure is different. The power of the ESB to construct and build electricity lines at the varying voltages is based on the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927. It is a way-leave power as opposed to the compulsory purchase order power which is traditionally used for road projects. It is the right to place an electricity line across people's land. This is an unusual power per se compared to what most people are used to dealing with in terms of roads and CPOs.