Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the Taoiseach's party's website, I read the following line: “Fianna Fáil stands by its commitment that this project can only proceed on the basis that the lines are placed underground”. It is a line that was uttered by plenty of the Taoiseach's candidates in Cavan, Monaghan and Meath over the course of the most recent general election. I would like to ask him what is his position now, considering that the planning process was moved forward substantially when the minister from the Taoiseach's sister party in the North last night granted planning permission in that jurisdiction. The fundamental problem remains in place, which is that public acceptance simply is not there. Those of us who have followed this since 2007, a period in which the North-South interconnector has been met by delay after delay, recognise that the reason for those delays is the lack of public acceptance. Will the Taoiseach ensure his own party's pre-general election position is adhered to, and we fundamentally review this issue and move towards the undergrounding of the North-South interconnector?

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