Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

As someone who spent one month in the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy Prison, I, too, express my solidarity with Teresa Treacy and condemn the decision of the ESB and EirGrid to pursue her in this manner. There is no doubt that the blame comes back to the Minister's door. To have State agencies acting in the manner of bully boys against an elderly, law-abiding, tax-paying citizen is absolutely reprehensible. It is a fact that Mrs. Treacy has offered to forfeit any compensation and have moneys offered to her by the State bodies used to have the cables placed underground and protect the trees on her property. Incidentally, the level of trees in Ireland is well below what it should be and she in, in fact, just fulfilling a civic duty. This matter lies fully at the door of the Government which has overall responsibility for semi-State companies. I ask the Minister to intervene to deal with this scandal.

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