John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to the Minister for his response and agree with him on one issue, namely, that there has been a great deal of dishonesty surrounding much of the information concerning these projects, not least from those who, at some stage or other, claimed they would bring in 60,000 jobs. This has now been diluted to a projection of 6,000 jobs.

Was it not the case that when this policy was devised in 2006, his predecessor, former Minister, Eamon Ryan, said the grid expansion was to facilitate renewables? Therefore, I put it to the Minister that this does have implications for EirGrid. I see nothing categoric in his answer to refute the fact that communities are being left in limbo as to whether these export projects will proceed. It seems to me they are merely being deferred.