Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for her direction because it is similar to the approach I would take in discussing this matter with the Minister, Ms Mallon, or anyone else. It is not appropriate for us to comment on the legal proceedings taking place in the North, which will have to be worked through in their own time.

As I said in response to an earlier question, EirGrid's management of any project is a matter for the company and we do not get down to specific project management details like that. EirGrid will make the call in this matter. It is a single project and it must connect North to South because that is the very definition of it. There would be no point in running it to the Border and stopping there. There must be a cross-Border perspective on it. The details are a matter for the company. My discussions with the Minister in the North were not around the legal aspect relating to the project. They were around the strategic benefits of co-operation, in which I firmly believe.

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