Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)

I am sure we can arrange something. Earlier this week, I spoke about semi-State bodies like EirGrid paying bonuses last year. According to the company's 2010 annual report, the chief executive, Mr. Dermot Byrne, was paid a bonus of €23,000. I welcome the fact that this year the company will not pay any bonuses. I wish to highlight, however, that a bonus was paid to the CEO the year that EirGrid had to sensationally withdraw the planning application for the North-South interconnector. While the CEO was given a handsome reward, this blunder by EirGrid, concerning the height of electricity pylons, left local communities across Cavan, Monaghan and Meath facing a huge legal bill.

There is one rule for some and another for others. I ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to the House to discuss the ratification of the Aarhus Convention and how the costs involved for these communities will be reimbursed. Unless the convention is ratified and groups such as the County Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee and North East Pylon Pressure have their legitimate costs reimbursed, the people will be denied the opportunity to meaningfully participate in oral hearings to highlight their environmental concerns.

On a separate but related matter, the programme for Government commits to the establishment of an independent international expert commission to review, within six months, the case for and cost of placing underground all or part of the Meath-Tyrone line. It is now two months to the deadline, but the Minister has not yet announced anything about the review. EirGrid has finished the first round of the non-statutory public consultation process in preparation for submitting a formal new application to An Bord Pleanála. If the expert commission is to inform the process, it needs to be set up with terms of reference as soon as possible. I, therefore, ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to the House before the recess, if possible, to discuss this important issue.