Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This always arises and then another situation is proposed that we know will cost far more than the way it has been done up to now. The suggestion is that everybody's health will be put at risk. There is no intention on the part of any responsible state body, or otherwise, to be involved in anything like that. Promoting that idea and creating agitation to negate progress is not helpful. We must talk to the people candidly, openly and honestly about these issues and must not suggest there is a way the system can be put entirely underground at four times the cost and still leave us with a competitive electricity system and able to create jobs.

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