Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I assure the Deputy that I have gone to considerable lengths to establish if there is a safety risk and I am absolutely, and I stress that, assured that no risk exists. I agree that just because this is a State body making a planning application, it does not make it right. The proposition, however, that I should interfere is wrong; it is a matter for the planning authorities to decide if it is right, if it is in compliance or if it is a health risk. The planning authorities have gone through all of this and I am assured there is no health risk, that this is a project of profound value to everyone on the island because of concerns of security of supply and ensuring we have an energy supply in the future, and the hope that it will bring down prices. This is vital national infrastructure and if I thought there was a 0.1% risk to health as a result of the project, I might take a different view.

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