Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter, and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Killeen, for coming in to deal with it.

I fully support the North-South electricity interconnector. There has been a great change since the last one was put in place, which lay idle for 30 years because of the violence in Northern Ireland. We are pleased with the present level of co-operation North and South because it will ensure the supply of electricity in a growing market and will hopefully reduce the cost. Nobody at the meetings I attended opposed this connector.

I am aware that this is primarily a matter for EirGrid, not directly for the Government. My colleague, Deputy Margaret Conlon, and I attended many meetings in County Monaghan where concern was expressed about the visual impact of the interconnector. EirGrid will consider this in the planning process under the strict guidelines of the Strategic Infrastructure Act. The issue of prime concern is health, and people were unanimous that the cable should be underground. I ask EirGrid to consider whether this is possible.

The health concerns expressed are similar to those expressed when telephone masts were erected. However, I am satisfied that there is no serious health risk regarding low frequency power lines. I believe the State bodies involved will adhere to the strict guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection, the World Health Organisation and the European Union. This does not, however, solve the problem of those who fear they are at risk.

The most important point I will make tonight relates to communication. EirGrid must communicate with all stakeholders, including those who live along the proposed routes from which one will be selected. EirGrid must contact each household and ensure people's health fears are alleviated because, while this matter poses no direct risk to one's health, lying awake at night worrying about a perceived risk could damage a person's health. I ask that EirGrid examine the possibility of running cabling underground as this would alleviate the fears of all concerned. The company must also ensure that factual information on this issue is made available to the public because there was a great deal of misinformation at the meetings we attended and many people are frightened by what is happening. It is important that these fears are dealt with and this can be done if EirGrid contacts all householders and invites them to attend explanatory meetings where the relevant information is available and people can make up their own minds.

We support this project and hope to see it proceed but would like to see it supported by local stakeholders, which can be achieved if their anxiety is alleviated.

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