Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the key concerns arising from the public consultation process on Grid25 was the extent to which undergrounding options had been explored to allow ready comparison to be made in respect of overhead line solutions for individual projects. That is why EirGrid was asked to conduct a comprehensive analysis of what would be involved in undergrounding the high-voltage cables for the Grid West and Grid Link projects. As already outlined, the independent expert panel was put in place by my predecessor.

To the extent that there is any concern or lack of confidence about the process or its independence, the composition of this independent expert panel and the expertise of its members should allay any such concern or lack of confidence. Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, a retired Supreme Court judge, is chairing the expert panel. The other members are the economists Mr. John FitzGerald and Mr. Colm McCarthy, engineering professor Keith Bell of the University of Strathclyde and Dr. Karen Foley, head of the school of landscape architecture in UCD. They are entirely independent persons who will do a good job and provide their report to me. I will await that report before making any further comment.

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