Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his succinct report on the current position. I assume the independent expert panel is required to submit its reports to the Minister before the proposed projects can proceed or another round of consultations can take place. I ask the Minister to clarify the position in that regard.

EirGrid has indicated it will engage in public consultations on its draft strategy entitled, Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow. I respectfully request that the Minister speak in forceful terms to the company about how it intends to engage with local communities. I will cite a brief example of EirGrid's previous engagement.In my town, Carrick-on-Suir, an eminent professional went to seek information pertinent to where he lived. He put a series of questions to the EirGrid representatives and, unhappy with the answers he had received, returned in the evening, met a different official and received a different series of answers from those he had received in the morning from the same company. That is completely unacceptable.