Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's reply would indicate that EirGrid is telling him that the works being carried out are minor and that there is one temporary pylon. I have photographs that show something completely different. It shows two pylons, a road being constructed and other works being carried out on site. This is a flagrant breach of the planning legislation and shows total disregard for the people of Timahoe and the Ratheniska area.

The question about the environmental impact statement, EIS, needs to be answered. Maybe it has been completed but our information is that it has not been and that planning permission was given despite the concerns of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The whole project needs to go back to the start because EirGrid has started work and it cannot now simply continue under the present permission. We need answers. We are not dealing with a rogue developer. These are two semi-State companies, owned by us, which are accountable to the Minister, to this House and to the people. I want the Minister to contact An Bord Pleanála.

I welcome the fact the Minister has been in contact with EirGrid but I want him to make close contact with it again on this project to clarify the issue around the aquifer. Like Deputy Fleming, I invite the Minister to meet us on the site. Deputy Fleming, the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and I met local residents at a packed public meeting a few nights ago in Ratheniska. We may be divided on many things but on this issue I do not sense any difference between the three of us, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin, on this issue in the constituency.

See this speech in context