Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The bottom line is that the majority of Deputies in this House agreed that there should be an entirely new independent expert analysis of the North-South Interconnector complete with estimates of the cost of the project for tourism, agriculture, heritage, health and local communities, a decision with which Seanad Éireann agreed. In my view, that motion must be respected rather than overridden in any shape or form by the Minister and the Government's endless pursuit of what they believe to be the current situation.

I understand that the Government Chief Whip, Deputy Regina Doherty, went on local radio the morning after the motion was passed and told the people of Meath that the Fianna Fáil motion would be implemented in full. Irrespective of whatever terms of reference the Minister intends to introduce in respect of this independent review, will he consult with our party, which put down the motion? I hope he would consult with all spokespeople on this side of the House. What I want from the Minister is a commitment that he will honour the motion that was passed by a majority of Deputies in this House. I received a bound copy of the motion from the Ceann Comhairle. It was passed by a majority of Deputies in this House, so surely that makes it incumbent on the Minister with responsibility for this area to give effect to the democratic wishes and will of this Parliament.

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