Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment stated that the proposed North-South electricity interconnector project should proceed as planned, in other words, utilising overhead pylons, and that he was not interested in any more reviews. Despite the previous reviews he cited ruling out underground options, such options will be considered as part of another major electricity upgrade project announced by EirGrid yesterday, which will run between Kildare and Meath. There are therefore clear contradictions in the manner in which the physical infrastructure for this country's electricity supply is being progressed. There are other examples of this in the west.

The Leader will be acutely aware, as am I, of the resolute opposition from people in the affected counties of Meath, Cavan and Monaghan to the overground option to be pursued for this particular project. If the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, really wants to electrify Meath, he should start by electrifying the rail line from Dublin to Dunboyne and then complete it into Navan. We would then see proper electrification of the county. He knows this but he should be reminded again. I ask the Leader to work with me in conveying that message to him and I trust that she will.