Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This applies whether it is to supply water for this city for the next 50 years or to supply quality water for major infrastructure projects that need huge quantities of it and so on.

Do we want to deal with these problems or do we want to shove them aside? As far as I am concerned, we must deal with the future. We exit the bailout programme on Sunday. On Monday, we stand as a free member of the eurozone, with all the opportunities, constraints and securities of that.

We must plan for the future in a proper fashion. I am all for full wholesome and open consultations. I have never been a supporter of behind-closed-doors decisions. In this case, the GRID25 plan is not about our generation but the one coming behind us and whether we are in a position to have a system and structure that will deliver for the next generation and allow it to continue to be belong to the best countries in the world in which to do business. That requires rational common sense discussion and I am prepared to have that from our point of view and from the Government's point of view. We do not speak for EirGrid. We do not have a role in directing that the company should put a line here or there.

Deputy Martin's proposal for an international assessment has already been addressed by the Minister in respect of the work of the independent international group, which concluded that it would be three times the cost in terms of underground as opposed to overground. If we appointed another, it might conclude it would be two and half times the cost or five times the cost. What is the answer?

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