Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The North-South interconnector has been a controversial project since it was first mooted. In its present guise, it will not proceed because the communities affected will ensure it does not.

With this in mind, I was disturbed to hear last week that EirGrid or its agents were caught sneaking - that is the word I would used - across a landowner's property without the landowner's consent or giving prior notice. For a company that is working on behalf of the State, this is deplorable and needs further investigation. The high-voltage overhead power line will travel through Meath, Cavan and Monaghan on its way to Tyrone, but the project does not have the support of the local community and will not go ahead unless the local community supports it. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, come to the House as soon as possible to update us on the current review of the project, when the review is expected, what is happening and what EirGrid is doing on behalf of the State by sneaking onto private individuals' lands without their consent.

I wish to discuss the Northern Ireland protocol and the Brexit situation in the North. The business community is beginning to lead the way in pointing out the advantages of the protocol. Almac is a leading pharmaceutical company with more than 6,000 employees, almost 4,000 of whom are located in Northern Ireland. It is creating a further 1,000 jobs in Craigavon and in its Derry plant. This is good news. A page entitled "Post-Brexit: The Almac Advantage" on the company's website reads: "Unique, unfettered and flexible access to the UK, Europe and beyond". This is the key. I would like more businesses to lead the way instead of politicians from certain communities leading us down a blind alley. It is time we listened to the business community.