Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has extended the deadline for submissions on the pylons issue to 7 January. I encourage the Deputy to submit, as part of that process, the information he has given and the case he has made in the House. It is important the consultative process is full and all the information and cases that people have to make on this issue are made and considered.

There is another issue that we must consider for the long term. We all know that the extension of the electricity grid and the availability of energy and electricity supply are critical for the generation of employment and economic development, particularly in the regions. Some regions have experienced economic difficulties and difficulties in attracting investment and employment. It is critical there is an adequate energy supply to all the regions. In considering this issue, we must consider the long term. It is clear that EirGrid has an obligation, and the Minister has drawn attention to this, to operate, first, on the basis of consulting the public and listening to what they have to say on this issue; second, to comply with the planning processes in place: and third, to take the highest possible international standards for all the issues that must be considered, including environmental, and whether the cables should be under or overground. A study on whether cables should be under or overground was carried out in respect of the Meath-Tyrone project. The Deputy is aware of the outcome of that study. All these issues must be considered as part of the consultation process, which the Minister has extended to 7 January.

See this speech in context