Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I am here to support Senator Rabbitte on this interesting and important legislation. It is bizarre that this has not been addressed since 1934. It just shows how outdated it is, that it has not been a priority of any Government and that it suits the ESB that it remains this way. However, it certainly does not suit the residents whose lives, financial security, homes and businesses have been affected. I therefore pay tribute to Senator Rabbitte for introducing this Bill. I understand it will pass Second Stage, which is great because that will give the Government an opportunity to make its position known on Committee Stage. If it feels the legislation can be improved, that is great and Members of the House who have suggestions about how it can be improved can propose amendments on Committee Stage.

I agree with my colleagues who have spoken about the need for a review and discussion of Ardnacrusha, because Ardnacrusha was the biggest project undertaken by the Government at the time. It was huge. It was groundbreaking and made a huge difference in modernising the country. I attended, I think it was 20-----