Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In Deputy O'Rourke's previous question about curtailment, he clearly showed an understanding of what the problems are when we have too much electricity in one part of the island and not enough in another and we cannot share it from one to the other. I am sure he understands what the benefits of the project are. Like any infrastructure project, whether building a road or a greenway, there is always a need for engagement with local communities and a need to obtain consent as far as possible. The project has to be built eventually. It has to go through all the due diligence and due process, and eventually issues need to be worked out with the landowners on the ground. It is never easy but this process has not been rushed. We have been hearing about this for many years. There have been many rounds of engagement and legal process with the involvement of An Bord Pleanála, open hearings and oral hearings. I have heard about it for many years at this stage. We are now at the point where landowners are being are being offered compensation and we will have to see what the response is.

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