Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. My colleague, Deputy Michael Moynihan, must become complimented because were it not for his bringing forward this Private Members' motion we would not be here discussing this multi-billion euro project in the State. As previous speakers said, there is widespread concern and anxiety across numerous counties about the construction of large overhead transmission pylons, the Grid25 project and the proposal to build three new 400 kV power lines.

While the Government welcomes and commends the decision to extend the public consultation process to 7 January 2014, this is not good enough as it does not address the huge volume of concerns. A number of the key decisions have been made. EirGrid has decided that the capacity of the new power lines will be 400 kV. It has decided that work on the upgraded network will be carried on single routes. It has decided against using underground lines owing to perceived costs. The costs, figures and information supplied by EirGrid has continuously changed. That is why Fianna Fáil has called for an independent, international assessment of the EirGrid proposals in order that the health and visual concerns of the public are fully addressed and that the cost of undergrounding transmission cables will be fully examined. The project which will cost the State billions of euro warrants such an assessment in order that we can be sure of the information and have absolute confidence in the information before us. It is critically important that as a country we have the strategic infrastructure in place. I do not concur with some of the previous Government speakers who say we should not examine this issue because we do not need the capacity now. We should examine it in order that we can future proof and ensure we will have the infrastructure in place, as the motion states, in order that we can "allow for a clean, sustainable and affordable supply to the public and to support all future economic and societal development".

We have ambitious renewable energy targets for 2020. The need for some of the new transmission pylons derives from the Government's ambitious targets for wind-generated electricity. Last night the Minister confirmed to the House that turbines planned for export would not be able to connect to the national grid. I ask for something more concrete than the Minister's word because it would not be unheard of for Ministers to say something one day and do something else the next. The manner in which the Government is pursuing the renewable energy sector is haphazard and that is fuelling concern and anxiety.

Earlier this year the review of the 2006 wind energy guidelines gave the public a two-week window of opportunity to make their submissions. When it became aware of the proposals for the industrial wind farms in the midlands, it took 12 months and two public marches, when more than 1,000 people marched to Dublin Castle and 2,500 people marched in Mullingar, before the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, agreed to develop an overall policy and planning framework to guide An Bord Pleanála on the export of wind energy. Why is it taking a 12 month process before that report will be debated in the House? People would be forgiven for cynically thinking the Minister was waiting - if he could listen, he might be able to answer-----

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