Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a question of long-term versus short-term perspectives. It is the culture of the quick buck on the one hand, and taking a long-term interest in the quality of our landscape, our tourism industry and our natural amenities on the other. All of us want to improve our balance of payments and our exports, but what is the long-term financial cost?

I support the thrust of this motion. All of us have seen the map of the proposed corridors for the EirGrid massive pylon project. These pylons will cut through communities, towns and parishes across our country. In regard to the proposal to put pylons underground, we need look no further than the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) (Amendment) Bill 2014, which I introduced to the House. That Bill would require high-voltage lines to be placed underground wherever it is physically possible to do so. I ask the Government to make time for a debate on the Bill. Although these issues have been discussed extensively on the Order of Business and elsewhere, the Government has not facilitated an extended debate on how we will meet our renewable energy targets or on high-voltage lines and pylons. We are now confronted with the prospect that hundreds of turbines, pylons and power lines will become part of the landscape and consciousness of rural Ireland for generations, shaping the way future generations perceive our landscape. Some of these pylons are only 10 m shorter than Liberty Hall. Imagine a long line of such pylons across the landscape at intervals of 250 m. They will be located inside a corridor 1 km in width, with planning applications for final routes to be decided later.

The all-island grid study of 2008 did not give serious consideration to placing the cables underground. A commission has now been put together in advance of the local elections to consider placing high-voltage lines underground as an afterthought. I have the greatest of respect for members and former members of the Judiciary but it may be preferable to stay away from the Judiciary when commissions are established on such an ad hoc basis in future. Members of the Judiciary have an important role in upholding the rule of law but this commission is political in its inspiration and has not been established with the common good in mind. I say this without in any way ascribing fault to Ms Justice McGuinness.