Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I request that the Deputy Leader ask the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to come into the House at the earliest opportunity to discuss the report published yesterday by the so-called independent commission on the North-South interconnector. As Members will be aware, this is a high-powered electricity connection which will link the networks in the North and the South. We have been talking about this project for the last 15 years, as the Deputy Leader knows well. My colleague, Senator Cassells, also mentioned this subject today. The one constant disappointment over these last 15 years has been that the Department has continued to refuse to listen to the communities that will be affected by this project.

Yesterday, we were given three or four hours' notice of a briefing to be given to us at 4 p.m. This was disrespectful, but this has also been a constant as well in how the Department has handled this project from the get go. It has shown consistency in this regard. We were also told the plan is to have this project completed by the middle of 2026, which I think is wishful thinking, to put it mildly. After 15 years, the opposition to this project is as strong, if not stronger, than ever. Unless and until representatives of the Department sit down and speak to the communities affected by this project, we will still be having this conversation, those of us that might be here, in another 15 years. I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to come into this House so we can discuss the outcome of this report.