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

Based on the Minister's utterances and his attitude on this issue, I can tell him that in ten years' time the North-South interconnector will not be built. Today I read transcripts from the previous time the Minister was in government when he then refused to listen to Deputies in this House, including Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and others, who pointed out to him that without the principle of public acceptance being considered at least by EirGrid, this matter would not progress. At that time it was felt that the delays would involve legal actions and the planning process, but crucially the delays would be starting in real terms in relation to the construction phase. Therefore, it will not happen.

Deputy O'Rourke rightly pointed out some of the deficiencies with the report the Minister mentioned earlier. It went so far as to describe undergrounding of the North-South interconnector as a credible option. The figures the Minister quoted are spurious because they relate to undergrounding along the exact same route as proposed for the overhead lines.

See this speech in context