Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The planning and construction of electricity transmission infrastructure is a matter for EirGrid as Ireland's statutory State owned transmission system operator and I have no role nor intervene in the day-to-day planning and operational decisions by EirGrid in relation to transmission infrastructure.

The planning process for strategic energy infrastructure is the function of An Bord Pleanála as the independent statutory authority in respect of strategic infrastructure developments. It would not be appropriate for to intervene in matters arising in relation to projects subject to the planning process. Issues relating to the consent process for the North South Interconnector project are proper to An Bord Pleanála. In the circumstances, a meeting with the group in question would not be appropriate.

I am fully aware of the concerns expressed in relation to the Meath Tyrone 400kV electricity interconnector development project which is currently subject to the planning process North and South. During the preplanning consultation phase of this development, I met with representatives of the community who had concerns in relation to aspects of the development. In recognition of the concerns I arranged at that time for my Department to commission an independent report into the comparative merits of overhead lines versus underground cables. I subsequently arranged for the consultants who completed the report to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

I met with representatives of Rush Community Council in respect of the East West Interconnector which has already received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála. I have requested my Department to commission an independent and international Expert Opinion on the issue of electromagnetic fields and HVDC electricity cables in the context of concerns expressed by Rush Community Council. This work has now been commissioned and will be published and conveyed to all relevant stakeholders, when it is completed. The objective in commissioning this opinion, and the previous analysis in relation to underground cables and overhead lines, is to provide further independent information input that assists in addressing local concerns.