Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the North-South interconnector, the high voltage electricity cable that will run from the South to the North, passing through the Southern counties of Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal. Owing to great public concern in the past decade the project has yet to proceed, but a very sensible and practical motion has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas calling for the Minister and the Department to undertake an independent review of the true cost of undergrounding the cables. Following this, the Minister published the terms of reference for the review which, I am disappointed to say, were totally rejected by all Oireachtas Members and both action groups. We met the Minister again to outline our concerns and he duly stated he would take them on board. Today I received an email from him outlining his second attempt at devising the terms of reference. Following discussions I had earlier today over the phone with both action groups and other Oireachtas colleagues, the new terms of reference are still not acceptable. It is very disappointing, frustrating and, not to mention, infuriating that here we are, with two sets of terms of reference, and the Minister still has not taken on board the concerns of the Oireachtas Members who represent the people of the counties mentioned and the action groups that represent the communities affected. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House to address this issue in order that we can try to move forward with one voice on the issue? Otherwise the second attempt at devising the terms of reference for the review will be another complete waste of taxpayers' money.