Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Gallagher and Wilson for raising this Commencement matter which I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughten, who unfortunately cannot be here.

I thank both Senators for providing the opportunity to discuss this important energy infrastructure project. They raise suggestions that are often referenced in the debate on this project and I welcome the discussion on the topic. I note that the Minister, Deputy Naughten, will meet local representative groups and public representatives to hear their views. That meeting had been scheduled for last Friday but unfortunately a number of the representatives were unable to meet on that date and the meeting will be rescheduled soon.

It is important to state that Government policy and the development of energy infrastructure precludes the Minister with responsibility for energy from directing EirGrid one way or another with regard to this development, or any interconnector. This is a detail that appears never to be raised in a debate but it is an important one in terms of the parameters of the role of the Minister, Deputy Naughten.

As detailed in the 2012 Government policy statement on the strategic importance of transmission and other energy infrastructure, the policy in this area is very clear. It sets out that the Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and the ESB Networks or any other infrastructure developer to particular sites, routes or technologies. EirGrid is the designated transmission system operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. It carries out its role independent from political direction. Would it be appropriate if Ministers with responsibility for energy were to regularly direct it in the discharge of its functions? I do not believe that such a scenario of interference would be ultimately beneficial for all of the people within our State.

The potential for developing the North-South interconnector project underground has been examined and a number of studies have been carried out by EirGrid and independently commissioned by my Department. All those studies were available to An Bord Pleanála as part of a recent planning process. This statutory independent process concluded on 21 December last with the publication of the planning decision. This decision approved, with conditions, the proposed overground North-South 400 kV interconnector project, although I agree that nine conditions seem a little light for a project of that nature, considering, as Senator Gallagher said, that many home owners seem to have many more such conditions attached to some planning permissions.

The planning process carried out by An Bord Pleanála heard from my Department that the North-South interconnector is the key project in delivering the objectives of the national energy policy, specifically security of supply, competitiveness and sustainability. This will bring benefits to electricity customers across the island of Ireland. The planning process also heard testimony both in favour of and against the overground and underground solutions. It examined those issues thoroughly and concluded that a high voltage alternating current overhead line is the best technical and economic solution for the North-South interconnector to achieve these national energy objectives.

I stress that the statutory independent planning process has determined that the proposed North-South interconnector should be developed and neither I nor the Minister, Deputy Naughten, has any role in directing EirGrid to develop the project in a different manner. I understand and acknowledge the grave concerns of local people, local councillors and all my Oireachtas colleagues in the affected counties. This project has been debated on many occasions in our parliamentary party meetings and I am sure it has also been debated in the Senators' parliamentary party meetings. I accept the concerns people have about the overground solution but the policy is clear, namely, that we do not have the power to direct the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to interfere in a decision on the role of EirGrid. The planning process carried out by An Bord Pleanála was independent. Obviously, I was not present at those proceedings. The Senators have views on what was done, what was not done and what should have been done but, clearly, An Bord Pleanála's has an independent role from Government, which must also be acknowledged.