Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Rónán Mullen and Feargal Quinn for proposing this very important motion.

We did not inherit this world from our parents. We borrowed it from our children. One day we will return it. It should be every bit as bountiful as it was when we found it. That is what sustainability means and sustainability is what the world needs now, which gives Ireland a momentous opportunity, maybe the defining opportunity of our time, because the rewards it can bring us are all breathtaking.

That is an excerpt from the Origin Green film commissioned by Bord Bia in conjunction with Saoirse Ronan. If Members have not seen this stunning film which depicts our stunning countryside, they should watch it and then imagine the 560 km of this stunning countryside dotted with 1,540 ugly, 45 m high pylons. These pylons were invented in 1912, almost 100 years ago. Can we not think of something better? It is not about us but about future generations.

Bord Bia is one of our better State boards. Pathways for Growth and Food Harvest 2020 are one of our great success stories. We are heading for a turnover of €12 billion in agricultural exports. I would love to have the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, here to ask him whether he has engaged in consultation with EirGrid. Numerous studies have highlighted the negative impact of overhead lines on agriculture, blood stock in particular. It is will known that these animals will react negatively in the vicinity of such lines.

Does anybody know an American who will come here to see pylons? We all know how important tourism is now and for the future. Ireland's scenery has been a cornerstone of international tourism marketing campaigns for decades. A 2007 Fáilte Ireland visitor attitudes survey showed that 80% of overseas holidaymakers to Ireland rated scenery as an important reason for their trips, followed by the natural, unspoiled environment, at 74%. What can we say to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar? Has he made a submission to EirGrid? It certainly will not help tourism.

To follow Senator Thomas Byrne's earlier contribution, I will give the Minister some words from our local group in south Kildare on how people are feeling about EirGrid and the public consultation process taking place. They believe EirGrid has been incredibly weak in its communication in the public consultation process. They are very stressed and worried about filling in the public consultation form and asked if the Minister could speak to EirGrid about possibly extending the time to the end of January 2014 in order that they could create their answers. Many ordinary people are just starting to mobilise.

Senators Aideen Hayden and Tony Mulcahy both made wonderful contributions. I am involved in industry and the cost of power is so relevant. I have never suffered a brownout; neither have we since County Meath began this journey seven years ago. However, I would still mention human beings, the citizens of this country. The Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte lives in the city. I would love to give him a present of a home in south Kildare. He and his wife would be very happy living on two or three acres.