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

The 2018 international report concluded that undergrounding the North-South interconnector was a credible option. It is important to put that on the record. It was a political decision to allow EirGrid to proceed with the overhead option. I am firmly of the view that the ongoing review is a waste of taxpayers' money because it is conducting an examination of something that nobody asked for. What people asked for was a proper, full assessment with a cost-benefit analysis of an underground option, which has never happened.

On what legal basis will EirGrid now be able to proceed onto the lands of people who have said they are not going to permit EirGrid to enter their lands? What level of interaction and conflict is the Government willing to allow to occur between EirGrid and local communities before it instructs EirGrid to consult them constructively, properly and adequately?

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