Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have heard the Minister throw so much cold water on the idea of undergrounding in the past few months. He will have to forgive me for suspecting that it might have a bit more to do with the local elections. In its submission on the Grid Link project, An Taisce argued that EirGrid's failure to facilitate public consultation on the preliminary decisions made in respect of the current Grid Link proposal presents a fundamental legal issue for the project as it does not comply with article 6.4 of the Aarhus Convention which states that each party shall provide for "early public participation, when all options are open and effective public participation can take place". Does the Minister believe that EirGrid's approach thus far has complied with the convention?

In respect of public participation and decision making, the Minister is probably aware of a statement yesterday by the Environmental Pillar. It has called on the Government to initiate an inclusive participatory process to develop a comprehensive national strategy on energy. It argued that such a strategy must clearly outline how the energy requirements of future generations can be met in the face of climate change and how energy usage can be reduced and the need to set out the pathway to achieve zero or near zero carbon emissions from energy by 2050. Does the Minister agree that a national energy strategy must be developed and used as the basis for any decisions on proposed energy infrastructure projects? Why is a major public investment programme going ahead in the absence of such a strategy?

See this speech in context