Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Health Information Bill will provide a legislative framework for the governance of information in the health sector. Work has commenced on the drafting of a discussion document in preparation for the regulatory impact analysis and public consultation on the proposal. The matter is at a preliminary stage.

Regarding the Electricity Regulation (EirGrid)(Amendment) Bill which will provide for a statutory underpinning of EirGrid plc to build and own an east-west electricity interconnector, analysis of all the issues involved is under way in the Department. The strategic importance of a North-South interconnector, in view of the debate on energy security, will be discussed in the House today. I ask Members to desist from unwarranted raising of hares in respect of the matter, particularly given the contention that placing the interconnector underground could increase the cost by up to ten times compared to the provision of pylons in the normal way.

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