A private member’s motion put forward by Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Climate Action Timmy Dooley on the N-S interconnector was supported by Dáil Éireann this Thursday by 79 votes in favour to 60 against.

Dooley’s motion called on the Government to commission an independent report, incorporating international industry expertise, to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the N-S interconnector, taking into account the most recent developments in technology and experience gained from existing projects abroad.

It also called on the Government to evaluate the potential impacts of both undergrounding and overgrounding the N-S interconnector on surrounding areas, considering such aspects as its impact on local tourism, health, landscape, agriculture and heritage.

Minister Naughten proposed a countermotion but this was defeated

Minister for Communications Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten, proposed a countermotion highlighting the benefits that the N-S interconnector will bring to electricity consumers across the island of Ireland, but this was defeated.

Although Dooley’s private member’s motion was successful, it has no immediate legislative consequence.

Interconnector

The proposed N-S interconnector is a new 138km, high-capacity electricity interconnector along overhead lines between the transmission networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the interconnector in Ireland, with a number of conditions attached. The decision concluded a lengthy process which included an oral hearing completed over 11 weeks from March to May 2016. The planning process in Northern Ireland is still continuing, with a planning inquiry due to commence on 22 February of this year.

The line will run almost entirely through agricultural land in counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan in the Republic – affecting 450 landowners – and counties Armagh and Tyrone in the North.

Landowners in Co Cavan affected by the proposed line said they would go to prison before they would see the electricity pylons built on their land

Speaking before the vote, Minister Naughten said he is aware that there is a “long-held and passionately-argued belief, from within some local communities along the route of the interconnector, that the transmission lines should be laid underground, rather than built overhead.

“However, all evidence available to me by my chief technical adviser indicates that this would cost substantially more and deliver less,” the minister said.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal recently, landowners in Co Cavan affected by the proposed line said they would go to prison before they would see the electricity pylons built on their land.

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