Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The works that are being proposed have a very lengthy lead-in time. We are trying to appoint someone to look at it. The design phase has not been agreed to. Deputy Cassells is correct that this does include the pylons on both sides of the Border. As he knows, we are still in the planning approval process in Northern Ireland, so we cannot go ahead with the design phase until we have a decision on that. This is about looking at interested parties that would actually carry out this work. It can be withdrawn. There is a cooling off period next June. That will allow time for all of the issues, including the planning application in Northern Ireland, to be decided upon. It would not make sense to sign any contract to go to the design phase until we have that aspect of it concluded.

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