Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

I am taking this matter on behalf of myself and Deputies Crawford and McEntee who could not be here to join in the debate. I am glad to see that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is present. I appreciate that. It is important that we have a good discussion on this.

Before a Minister or Fianna Fáil colleagues try to accuse Fine Gael of being against progress or delaying important infrastructure, I want to make clear that we are not. Let us be clear, Fine Gael wants the national grid improved. We recognise and support the need for the national electricity grid to be upgraded and expanded to international best standards as speedily as possible, but we disagree with the Government's approach. We are determined to ensure that we have explored all avenues and all alternatives on how this can be done. It might be quicker to roll it out underground, if it is proven to be viable, reliable and affordable. Many other projects that went overhead are still not completed ten years later. We have a responsibility to establish if this is possible.

Fine Gael has kept an open mind on this but I am sorry to say the Minister has not, nor have his Fianna Fáil colleagues. When this debate first started, I was singing the praises of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, as an open-minded person who would consider and look at all options, but I am afraid he has not given this his full attention with an open mind.

Simply because EirGrid is a State body does not mean it is correct. Most of those involved in EirGrid, ESB International and the ESB, have a history of involvement in overhead transmission and pylons. That is their job and their expertise. I accept they have researched the other end of it lately because they were forced to, but one must not forget that their jobs and careers were based in other transmission forms. We must have an open mind and a proper discussion on this.

As local Deputies we are annoyed that this submission to An Bord Pleanála is to be made this week, before Christmas. It is the wrong time to do it and it causes doubt and fear among the people. Christmas is a time for peace and happiness at home. The prospect of overhead pylons and power transmission lines over people's homes, through their field, etc., scares people. Rightly or wrongly, they are afraid. It is unfair to start this ball rolling again on Christmas week.

I fully accept that EirGrid has stated that it has looked for more time to make up for the time lost over Christmas. There are Fianna Fáil Deputies claiming they got this done. I do not believe that because the newspapers had the advertisements weeks ago. That should be clarified as well because we cannot have Deputies messing with this serious topic.

It is the wrong time to proceed with this and it is unfair. I am disappointed that it has happened. If the Minister has any influence over EirGrid, I would ask him to ask the company to hold back until after Christmas.

It is also wrong to lodge this application before we have a full and proper debate on the subject of transmission power lines. The Minister was forced into the Ecofys report and other reports and discussions over the past year and a half since this started, but EirGrid commissioned two reports which have yet to be discussed in this House or in the relevant committee, namely, the PB Power report and the TEPCO report.

We all have managed to see the PB Power report and I question much of its contents. In my view, it contains mistruths. The report should be brought to committee and should be discussed because it is relevant to how we go forward from here. Separate to this application, it is relevant to the overall policy on overhead-underground lines.

I refer to the TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company, report which EirGrid has made out to be the be-all and end-all during meetings. It maintains this is a very important report and that it proves the case made. However, it is still not published and, as of yesterday, we could not get it. These reports should be available to the House and should be debated and discussed. I trust they will be read by the Minister with an open mind. I call on the Minister to give a guarantee that regardless of when planning is applied for, the reports will be discussed here during January and that they will receive proper scrutiny and investigation. As local public representatives and on behalf of the North East Pylon Pressure, NEPP, group, we have questions we wish to put.

NEPP is an excellent group that carries out excellent research. We have questions we wish to put on behalf of the all the residents of the north east. They need to know that we are doing our job properly as politicians and acting responsibly. This is a very important matter and there will be serious consequences if we get it wrong.

Potentially, we could be making a great mistake. Other Governments are beginning to act responsibly in respect of this matter, including the Danish Government, which has set out its thinking on how to proceed, how to properly research the matter and what it intends to do. I accept the Minister did not start this process. His predecessor as Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, started it before the general election in 2007. However, the Minister is continuing it. He is in a very important position to influence the way in which the national grid is rolled out from here onwards. This is a big decision and the Minister has a good deal of influence. EirGrid maintains that it responds to Government policy. Basically, it does what it is told to do in respect of this matter.

This House sets the policy and the agenda. The Minister is in charge and I again call on him to give this matter some consideration. I realise he is a busy man, but I suggest he should take some time out and read the reports, including the ASKON report and, if he has time, to meet Professor Noack.

I do not believe EirGrid has given proper consideration to the proposals. I question the way in which EirGrid has done its job in many areas, including public relations and its consultation with people. In addition, the submission of an application on the week approaching Christmas was wrong. This is no way for a State body to operate, especially one with such an important job, that is, to ensure the national grid is expanded and improved quickly. I am disappointed with EirGrid. There are many questions it has not answered.

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