Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In every engagement I have with individuals living in our counties, on a person-to-person basis or at public meetings, they all state they fully understand this is critical infrastructure. They say they are not against the project but they are against the project going ahead in the form of having overground transmission cables. In other countries in Europe, similar projects can be put underground. The Minister quite rightly said that for the past 20 years there have been great advances in technology. We have seen projects in our own country been put underground. Why are we different in Monaghan, Cavan and Meath to the rest of the country? We have certain rights also. None of the reports, including the report from 2018, took into account in their terms of reference the effects it would have on tourism, heritage, landowners and householders in the affected areas.

The reports that have been done have not been as comprehensive as they should be. That is the firm view of the communities I am glad to represent in this House over many years and I will continue to represent their views as strongly as I can.

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