Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business by my colleague, Senator Robbie Gallagher, on the question of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, coming to the House. A few weeks ago motions were passed in the Lower House and in this House calling on the Minister and the Department to conduct a review into the comparative underground and overground costings of the proposed North-South interconnector, in light of the decision of An Bord Pleanála last December. The terms of reference have recently been published on the Department's website but they are, in my opinion, flawed. Not only do they disregard the democratic wishes of this House and the Lower House, they have ignored the wishes of the various groups, as outlined by Senator Gallagher, in Cavan, Monaghan and Meath, who are very concerned about the proposed route for the overground cable.The terms of reference do not take into consideration the devaluation of people's property and land, and the implications of the impact of the proposal on tourism and on people's health in the region. I advise the Leader on behalf of myself and my party that the review, as it is constituted, should not go ahead as it is flawed and can result in only one outcome, namely, proceeding with the overgrounding of these cables. That is not an acceptable way to progress this matter. I ask the Leader, by way of the proposed amendment to the Order of Business, to call on the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to come into the House in order that we can ask him why he is disregarding the wishes of this and the Lower House and of the communities that we represent.