John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

One wonders at the reasoning behind Mr John O'Connor's comments yesterday in light of the amount of fear, concern and anger of thousands of people, particularly in rural areas. I have addressed two meetings, one of which was in the Comeragh Mountains, with 1,500 attendees, expressing their concerns. We are still unsure about the potential impact of overground pylons on the general health of the population. Concerns have been expressed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, which is part of the World Health Organisation, about the non-ionising radiation that comes from pylons. The IARC concluded it is possible there are health risks associated with overground pylons. In 2006, it reported that if pylons are put overground, they should be kept away from populated areas. If a respected organisation like the IARC is making comments like this, we must take on board what it is saying. It claims there is the potential of serious health risks because of pylons.

I have spoken the EirGrid and its consultation process is abominably poor. That is accepted by Deputies on all sides. EirGrid had an idea that it could pick out the areas and then had to make statements in the newspaper before proceeding. It underestimated the uneasiness in the population in many rural areas. I urge the Minister to go back to EirGrid. I do not accept the EirGrid assumption that going underground would increase the cost sixfold. That is inaccurate.

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