Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I spoke briefly to the Minister last Thursday about the unauthorised development by EirGrid of an electricity substation and electricity lines at Coolnabacca, County Laois. It is not just a question of a breach of planning laws. This is a situation where the actions of EirGrid have been contemptuous. It has broken the law, disregarded the local community and been dishonest in its public statements. Some of its public statements and published documents are unworthy of a State organisation. I personally believe that some of the documentation it has submitted to An Bord Pleanála is fraudulent. The issue is far more serious than someone commencing work on a project that had planning permission prior to lodging a commencement notice. It says in the public statement that it commenced work on the site prior to discharging some of its conditions, and that the works are approved by An Bord Pleanála. That is simply untrue. I am not permitted to describe it with the appropriate three-letter word.

This is an area where planning was granted as a result of An Bord Pleanála carrying out an appropriate assessment. That means that if one breaches the planning laws and conditions one cannot go back for retention. There is no option for An Bord Pleanála to ignore this issue. It has ignored the construction management plan that it should have submitted to Laois County Council. It has ignored the condition dealing with the national parks and wildlife and the conditions applicable to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Above all, it has now submitted a document to An Bord Pleanála seeking minor alterations. That document is a fraudulent document and should be withdrawn because it makes no reference to the fact that this work has already been completed. It is seeking a minor alteration for something that is already history. That is a fraudulent submission to An Bord Pleanála and it must be asked to withdraw it straight away.

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