Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Ms Teresa Treacy is in Mountjoy Jail as we speak. She was thrown in there by order of a judge because she is not prepared to allow the ESB to destroy a swathe of trees through her forest at Clonmore, County Offaly in order to erect massive pylons and power lines. Conifers have already been cut. I have personally seen the destruction that has been done. The next tranche for the chop is a beautiful stand of native Irish broadleaf trees. The ESB has the option of putting the cable under the ground. This should be done for environmental and health reasons. The ESB is a powerful semi-State company. It is outrageous that it is oppressing a powerless citizen in this way. I call on the chief executive of the ESB, Pádraig McManus, to withdraw the injunction and thereby allow Teresa Treacy to be released immediately. All sides could proceed by agreement thereafter. I call on the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, to ensure that happens. It is his responsibility. Finally, is it not striking that the establishment can jail innocent citizens with incredible speed without imposing any such sanction on real criminals whose greed has wrecked our economy and damaged our society?

See this speech in context