James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I raise this matter on the Adjournment because it is of grave concern to the people of Rush, where 3,000 people, from a population of 9,000 marched to show their concern. I thank the Minister for coming to the House to address this important issue.

I am fully supportive of the interconnector. It is a hugely important part of the future infrastructure of the country and an integral part of our strategy to encourage renewable energy and eventually to make Ireland an exporter of electricity. In the interim it will be important in securing electricity supply, should we not be in a position to create it ourselves. However, I raise a number of issues with regard to the project.

Only 43 people attended the original planning meeting because the people of Rush were not then aware of the project. Let us compare that figure with the 3,000 who marched. Meetings were held between EirGrid and the community group and an independent expert, who would be agreed by the community and EirGrid, was promised. Instead of this, EirGrid appointed a man who, while of some international repute, was not agreed by the community. Besides, within his report there is no mention of what is called the rubbish electricity which causes problems and is associated with a DC cable. Furthermore, a KEMA report was to be agreed, and that is ongoing. No work was to start until the KEMA report was complete but EirGrid have gone ahead with work, opening the road yesterday morning.

This morning, there were scuffles with gardaí. These peaceful people are the solid citizens of Rush. Many of them are rate payers. Business people and families are concerned about the disruption and the effect of this project on their town. There may be questions about the safety of the cable itself. There are health and safety issues. I am not an expert and do not profess to say if it is safe or not, but I know the people have grave concerns. While one cannot say anything is fully affected, if it is rerouted out of the town it will be fully safe because it will no longer be going up the street.

The manner in which the people of Rush have been treated is scandalous. Women were approached late last night in their own gardens by men pointing torches in their eyes to serve injunctions on them. Why did EirGrid not give notice that injunctions were to be served instead of behaving in this heavy-handed intimidatory fashion? It is unacceptable.

The Meath county manager refused to allow EirGrid to lay a cable through the main street of Ratoath and it was rerouted around the town. Fingal County Council was to have voted on the matter but it was taken off the agenda and permission was got by some other means. Some councillors had promised to vote against it.

There are alternative routes. The lack of good faith shown by EirGrid in not appointing an agreed health expert, in failing to wait for the KEMA safety report and, now, in serving injunctions late at night is abhorrent to me. I ask the Minister to reroute this cable partially out of Rush. This would not be a huge job. There are existing alternatives, and I do not refer to the estuary. There are alternatives north of Rush which can be used.

The people of Rush are extremely upset. An unsafe stand-off is being created there. I appealed to everyone to keep calm but I appeal to the Minister, within whose gift this is, to order this to be rerouted.

I know the Minister will tell us this project is funded from Europe. That is fine. Can he tell us when that funding must be drawn down? When I asked him on a previous occasion he could not tell me if it would be in January or December 2012, or if it would be 2012 at all. The cost of the cable, which is difficult to ascertain, is not an issue. The cable will be required, whatever route is taken.

I appeal, on behalf of the people of Rush, to have their voice heard. I never thought I would see the day, as a private citizen or as a public representative, when the will of one third of a population, who are so concerned they take to the streets about an issue, is completely ignored by their local authority and the Minister in charge. Deputies on the Government side have appealed to the Minister to take action. I fail to understand why he cannot. Ultimately, rerouting will be the cheaper solution.

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