Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Following the initial meeting two and a half years ago, the purpose of which was to move the project forward again, I would have thought there would have been some sort of consultation with people rather than their being informed that there is only one option. In 2010 and 2011 we were told the lights would go out if the project did not proceed but we now know that is not the case. There has not been a single change to the proposal for the North-South interconnector. While we talk about the different changes, it has never been reflected in the North-South interconnector proposal. We all know there has to be progress. However, the company has been trying to bring forward the project for eight years and to say that something has been published on the back of a report that is probably 500 pages long and expect people in counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan to find that and understand what it says is ridiculous. If the company wants to move this project forward, it needs to be able to bring people with it and show that it has worked with them. To date, this has not happened.