Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the past few months we have seen an old Fianna Fáil trick, where Fine Gael and Labour Party Deputies have played Government Deputies in Dublin but Opposition Deputies in their constituencies. They correctly complain that EirGrid's consultation is a merry dance, but that is all it is. EirGrid is not an independent fiefdom. It must operate within the boundaries of Government legislation. None of these pylons and power cables will be built in the Deputies' areas if they ensure the legislation to place them underground goes ahead. They have the power and must not outsource it to EirGrid. On the question of whether it is technically feasible, of course it is. There are 70 km of undergrounded cable in the State. The Danes, the French and the Spanish are already placing such cables underground with high voltage direct currents. I ask the Minister to create the legislation to provide for this option. None of this infrastructure should be forced on communities that are against it.

See this speech in context