Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion before the House. No one wants pylons near their houses. People build houses in rural areas to have a nice view, not to have some eyesore stuck at their back door. They tried it in the west and there was fierce resistance, yet they now seem to be persisting with this North-South interconnector. The country needs to decide where it is going in this regard. As I have worked in the construction industry for long enough, I would like to see the figures for running such an interconnector underground or overhead. I am damn sure we could put it underground a lot quicker than overhead, particularly in light of the time it takes to build pylons.

In the south, west and north west, we are promoting a lot of wealthy people. We are pumping them with money through subsidies for turbines. We are subsidising it uneconomically and creating fat cats while the ordinary people are paying PSO levies. We can see the rise in PSO levies this year that are paid by businesses or householders. We do not hear about those things, however, because the ordinary people will keep paying while the fat cats get richer.

People may talk about Brexit but governments have to make decisions. One does not look at something on a five, ten or 15-year basis, one looks at it long term. It is the same with road-building, which is considered over a 20-year period. I would encourage farmers and other householders in County Meath to stand up and be counted. Let us not forget that what is happening to them today may befall the rest of us in other parts of the country tomorrow. I urge people in various areas who are opposed to this to row in behind the people of Meath, Monaghan and other counties affected. If a precedent is set, the rest of the country will be in trouble with this.

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