Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a travesty that Sinn Féin did not flex its muscles on this issue when it had the opportunity to do so. As my colleague said, planning permission has been granted by civil servants in the North. It is a travesty that we will live to see it come to pass. EirGrid has flip-flopped repeatedly on whether it is economically or technically feasible to put cables underground. The inconsistency and overall unwillingness to engage of those involved in the Grid Link project are central to why the people of counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan feel so let down and that they have been unfairly treated. They are asking why the cables should not be put underground and the cabling proposal will not be considered when it is in the case of Grid West. While the Minister or his Department may consider land valuation, the heritage and history of the area and people's health not to be priorities to be dealt with in reports, I implore him to ensure they will be and that access will not be granted at a later stage in order to allow EirGrid to plough through people's land.

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