Mr. Fintan Slye:

In order for them to work, each of the two circuits need to be broadly of the same capacity, such that with the failure of one - due to a lightning strike or someone driving a truck into it - the power can transfer onto the other one. What ends up happening is that the capacity of both links is limited by the lower of the two because, obviously, if one fails, the power will transfer to the other.

It cannot meet the same needs as the North-South interconnector. The Deputy asked about putting it underground. This goes back to the fact we have looked at this extensively. I reiterate, and we were clear at the previous committee meeting, that undergrounding using HVDC is technically a viable solution but it has technical drawbacks, is technically not as good and has significant cost implications for all consumers.