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

To clarify, the 2012 Government policy statement states that the Government does not seek to direct Eirgrid, ESB Networks or any other infrastructure developers to particular sites, routes or technologies. That was adopted by my predecessors, not by me. I am working within the confines of the rules that were laid down in the process and had been laid down long before I came in. I want to put on the record that I am the first Minister since Deputy Eamon Ryan that has actually met with the groups and genuinely listened to the issues.

On 16 May, when we met in my office in Leinster House, the issue of compensation was specifically raised. On foot of that I asked my officials to see if we could find out what is happening throughout Europe on that. Deputy Smyth raised the issue of heritage. The reality is that local tourism, health, landscape, agriculture and heritage all had to be taken into account as part of the An Bord Pleanála assessment and as part of the oral hearing that took place at that point. I as Minister have an overarching duty that unless lawfully challenging a decision I have to accept the decisions of lawfully established bodies. An Bord Pleanála is the statutory process, and whether it is the decision made here by An Bord Pleanála or in Northern Ireland, unless lawfully challenging it I cannot interfere in that.

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