Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The SEA directive which has been transposed into Irish law establishes a process to consider all matters relating to the environment. The expert panel will review all of the processes to see if they are required. It will not be within the sole remit of EirGrid to decide that issue. Some 35,000 submissions were made on these matters. The Government is entitled to examine public opinions as expressed through the submissions and that is what we are doing.

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