Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Joan Freeman and all those who were involved in the Darkness into Light run last Saturday morning. It was a huge success. The event has gone from strength to strength.

I refer to the North-South interconnector which it is proposed to run through three counties, namely, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. As the Leader is aware, a motion was passed in both Houses calling on the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, to undertake a comprehensive review of the total costs involved in undergrounding the project, as opposed to overgrounding it. I saw on the Department's website that the Minister had published the terms of reference for the review and must say I am totally disgusted at and disappointed by their content. They are an insult to the Members of this and the Lower House, not to mention the people of counties Meath, Monaghan and Cavan, who campaigned so vigorously to have the project reviewed and the motion passed successfully through both Houses.I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, be asked to come to the House to explain why he has ignored the democratic vote of both Houses of Parliament and the wishes of the Cavan, Monaghan and Meath action groups who met him in this building a few short months ago.