Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response, but I do not think he got our point. The consultation process is flawed. A number of offices have been opened in the past 18 months and a number of meetings have taken place at marts and shopping centres, but nobody took any notice of this until the lines were put on a map. Human nature being what it is, that is when people sit up and take notice, which is why the consultation process is flawed and an independent expert group is required to come in and undertake an analysis. EirGrid has no credibility in the matter because of the way it has carried on and its arrogance in the way it has dealt with the people so far. I spent a day last week listening to Mr. John Lowry, project manager of EirGrid, being very determined that it would go underground because of the cost. There were no other issues involved. Two days later I heard EirGrid's outgoing chairman, Mr. John Fitzgerald, express a different opinion. This is where the issues arise and I ask the Minister to consider establishing an expert group to undertake an independent analysis which would have more credibility.

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