Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with the Minister on a number of those points but I believe we are not speaking to each other in this exchange. We are speaking past each other because the points I am raising are the points that have been raised by the community and it is my firm opinion that unless we address those concerns specifically we will not make progress. The Minister has responsibility for delivering this project. I am asking him, as a constituency TD who wants to see the project delivered, how he intends to deliver it. My firm opinion is that it will not be delivered in the current form and reasonable concerns have been raised by local communities about the nature of the proposal, how it was developed and the alternatives that exist. There is a forensic level of knowledge in the local community and I give them great credit in that regard. I know that currently there is not access to the lands. I do not see that at any point in time in the future. There have been signs up in those communities for ten years. How will the Minister deliver this project, which is a commitment of the Government, in light of the huge community resistance?

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