Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I publicly invite the Minister to visit the site. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, may have already invited him personally. The most upsetting point is that EirGrid has made a massive mistake. It knows this mistake cannot be rectified. A construction management plan cannot be submitted in an area covered by an appropriate assessment after work has commenced.

It has been dishonest in its dealings with what it submitted to An Bord Pleanála. It has been dishonest with Laois County Council. I am very concerned that EirGrid has shown a lack of candour in briefing the Minister today with what I would call the harmless response it drafted. We all know it is a big project and that is all the more reason for it to get it right. In its dealings with An Bord Pleanála it is calling this "minor alterations" because it knows that if it asks for retention, which is the reality, there is no provision in law to give retention for works covered by an area that required an appropriate assessment as carried out by An Bord Pleanála. It is telling An Bord Pleanála that works have not even commenced. It is looking for permission to do these proposed works. Everything about its submission is dishonest and fraudulent. It must withdraw from site unilaterally, completely and forever.

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