Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I will follow up on one or two of the Minister's answers. The representative group, which consists mostly of the North East Pylon Pressure group, submitted a 300 page document by the deadline. Will the Minister ensure that the consultancy firm meets this pressure group in the same way that, I assume, it will meet EirGrid? If the consultancy firm is from outside Ireland it will need an understanding of local concerns in addition to the localised demands of EirGrid. If the consultancy firm is to do as comprehensive a job as we hope, it will need to meet the two major players in the discussion. This makes sense and I ask the Minister to ensure it happens.

My second question is on the target route of the study. Is this a general assessment of overground versus underground or an assessment of getting a DC light, a 400 kV piece of infrastructure, from one point on the island of Ireland to another point? Is it that one might perhaps be able to use a combination of both? Is it specific to this project or is it a general report on the merits of underground versus overground and the average costs that apply? If it is specific to this route we need to ensure the consultant has the time and opportunity to examine the different routes concerned.

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