Minister challenged over interconnector
“Why are we different in Monaghan, Cavan and Meath to the rest of the country?” asked Fianna Fáil’s Brendan Smith when challenging for the Environment Eamon Ryan on plans for the North-South interconnector in the Dáil last week.
Demanding the “concerns of local communities will be addressed”, the Cavan-Monaghan TD stated: “We have certain rights also. None of the reports, including the report from 2018, took into account in their terms of reference the effects it would have on tourism, heritage, landowners and householders in the affected areas. The reports that have been done have not been as comprehensive as they should be.”
Minister Ryan had responded to Deputy Smith’s initial question by saying that the concerns of householders, farmers and communities “have been fully considered and addressed at every stage” of the development of the North-South interconnector.
The 2018 review, he added, was merely an update by an international expert commission of its 2012 independent study to examine technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding.
“I am satisfied that the concerns of householders, farmers and communities have been and are being taken fully into account by EirGrid and ESB Networks and that the completed project will represent the best possible solution for all concerned,” stated Minister Ryan.
But “vehemently” disagreeing with the position, Deputy Smith went on to say, since the project was first initiated 16 years ago, there have been “great advances in technology”, which have enabled undergrounding of similar transmission cables. “We know there was a proposal to have overground cables in the Meath and Kildare project.”
He further pointed out that the international expert commission report of 2018 stated overhead and underground options are “both commercially viable”.
“The Department or EirGrid are not supplying the Minister with the proper information if they continue to say that communities, landowners and people living in the three counties have been properly consulted or listen to,” contended Deputy Smith.
He was supported in his protestations by Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke from Meath who asked the Minister what does he believe the next step is?
“How does ESB Networks or anyone else intend to get on the lands of private property owners who are fundamentally opposed to this project proceeding as intended by the Minister?”
But alluding to the critical position the interconnector will play in linking Irish and Northern Irish electricity grids in terms of energy security for the future, the Minister said: “After 20 years of analysis, and after I do not know how many international reports looking at the options, each of which has come to the same conclusion, I believe it is time for us to progress this, in the interests of the community, particularly in the Border region, and of an all-island energy system.
"The key word here is that this is a ‘backbone’. It is not an insignificant piece of infrastructure. It is critical if this country is to have a functioning electricity system, one that can be balanced, repaired and restored and that delivers the secure electricity that we need for our future.”