Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As we have heard, the proposed North-South interconnector is a critical link in the all-island single electricity market. The effectiveness of this market is limited because of the existence of only one high capacity interconnector between the electricity systems of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Building the interconnector will further integrate the two systems such that greater efficiencies are realised from the single electricity market. This will ultimately benefit all electricity consumers across the entire island.

The interconnector has received planning permission for the construction of overhead electricity transmission lines. However, there exists a strong view that the transmission lines instead should be built underground. It is clear from a wide variety of studies, however, that undergrounding the project would have significant cost and technical implications. The evidence available from projects around the world, which was summarised in the 2012 international expert commission report, in evidence given to a recent An Bord Pleanála oral hearing and elsewhere, is that undergrounding costs are between three and ten times those of the equivalent overhead project. The 2012 report remains relevant.

On the technical side, the findings indicate that to underground the interconnector, direct current transmission lines would be necessary. These would have to be introduced in the existing alternating current meshed grid system. However, doing so would reduce the usefulness of the whole system.

For international context, it is important to note that fully 98% of on land high voltage electricity transmission networks in Europe are of alternating current overhead line construction. In addition, there are already two high voltage overhead lines in Ireland linking Moneypoint in west County Clare to the east coast. For the next ten years, overhead lines will remain the settled technology across Europe, with more than 27,000 km of high voltage alternating current overhead lines planned. In that context, it is clear that what is being proposed here is not unusual.

The interconnector is of critical importance to our ongoing positive relationships with authorities in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. Further delays to the development of the project will increase security of supply risks to Northern Ireland in the immediate post-2020 timeframe. Owing to our great reliance on the United Kingdom for the import of the majority of our energy, it is self-evident that energy must continue to be a key focus of our Brexit engagements. Passing the proposed motion would be of significant concern given the express support of the Northern Ireland and UK authorities for the interconnector in the context of the single electricity market.

Furthermore, to reiterate a point made by the Minister, the bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom in energy cannot be viewed in isolation. We must consider the implications of any potential impacts a change in our energy relationships, perceived or otherwise, could have on other sectors. It is, therefore, critical in the context of Brexit that we maintain a close and positive relationship with the United Kingdom across all sectors. The proposed amendment strikes a reasonable balance between the need to ensure certainty for the project and providing the updated analysis the affected communities seek.

Speaking on the Order of Business several weeks ago, Deputy Cassells referred to a speech I gave at EirGrid. During the question and answer session after my speech, I raised concerns expressed by local communities, my ministerial colleagues, Opposition Deputies and Senators about the information and costings provided and their desire to have the line constructed underground. I appreciate Deputy Cassells may not have been aware of this from the speech which was published online. Richard Curran hosted the question and answer session where I was joined by the chief executive of EirGrid. I raised the concerns I had been hearing from colleagues in the Fine Gael parliamentary party. Some years ago, a meeting of my parliamentary party passed a motion on this important project and its impact on counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath.

See this speech in context