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

We have not yet appointed the team. I expect it will be appointed shortly and that the review will take a short number of months. It is important for all concerned that we get clarity on this and it reaches a conclusion. The project has been an issue for many years now. It has been subject to extensive planning consultation, court hearings and ongoing court proceedings in Northern Ireland. Nothing can happen until that judicial process is concluded. That allows us a period to do a further review.

The North-South interconnector is critical infrastructure. We need to assess again the recommendations issued with regard to overgrounding versus undergrounding. One thing is absolutely clear; we need this project completed quickly. There are real stressed conditions in the provision of power in this country. The same applies on the other side of the Border. If we do not provide proper interconnection, a fracturing of energy policy will materialise across the island, between North and South. I imagine we all agree that is something we should try to avoid.

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