Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. The concern is that the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act will be used to ram this project through. That Act was brought through the House in 2006 and the Minister abstained in the vote. We opposed it because we saw the powers it would give to large corporations to drive through such large projects. The process has been flawed, as many speakers said. We must amend the Act to give communities a real say in how it happens. The N9 runs from the south east through the middle of Leinster. My colleagues who were in the Chamber at the time highlighted the need to lay these cables beside motorways. The ducting should have been put in alongside the N9. Had it been, we would not be having this discussion. The consultation process closes on 26 November. Everybody who has spoken agrees that the process has been flawed. I ask the Minister to extend the consultation process to 1 January 2014.

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