John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I echo the sentiments of my colleague, Senator Bacik, and Senator Ó Murchú, who have highlighted that in this country we have had more than our share of miscarriages of justice. In the week that we mourn the passing of Gerry Conlon, one such victim, it is appropriate that we bring to the notice of the House, the Tánaiste and the Government that we should not have any truck with the Government of Egypt, which has just incarcerated al-Jazeera journalists after a show trial. I support the NUJ calls for these journalists to be freed immediately. Any country that does not recognise a free press is not a free country. It is an affront to democracy and an affront to people who uphold such standards. The Government should not remain quiet on the issue.

The primary issue I would like to address and expose is a sly PR stunt pulled off yesterday by EirGrid, trying to suggest that it will underground high-voltage power cables in Mayo. I can tell the House that will never happen because I spent six days at an An Bord Pleanála hearing earlier this year in Portlaoise where 23 EirGrid executives refused to consider undergrounding 1.5 km of power lines in the scenic area of Ratheniska in County Laois. I ask the Leader to establish for me by asking either the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources or the Taoiseach whether the planning laws are different in Mayo than they are in Meath and Laois.