DEAR SIR: I would like to congratulate NEPP on its efforts for farmers in the northeast affected by the proposed north-south 400Kv line.

They battled heroically and successfully at the last oral hearing in Carrickmacross and exposed the Eirgrid argument for what it was – a messed up, ill-informed application that was subsequently withdrawn by Eirgrid.

Contrast Eirgrid’s behaviour in this case with the underground gas line that went ahead with little or no major conflict.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eirgrid have now proposed four additional routes for similar lines all over Ireland, so there will doubtless be more battles ahead on all the proposed lines.

Farmers affected should organise and band themselves together for the proposed fight as farmers in the northeast have by giving our support to NEPP.

The lack of interest shown by the farming organisations for their members’ interests in this case is interesting. Has the political hand of intrigue got involved in farming politics, or rather, have our farming organisations allowed such a situation to arise?

Eirgrid have claimed that they have discussed the position with the farming organisations.

As a member of one of these farm organisations, they have not asked for or can assume that they have any rights to negotiate on my behalf on any matters concerning the proposed line without my consent. I call on the candidates in the farming elections to let us know their position in relation to all the proposed lines.

If the local politicians are to be respected, they too should have expressed their concerns by now, but the majority of our local TDs (not all) again appear to have no opinion.

They do talk a lot about a new concept —community gain – a new idea to sweeten the pill by courting local organisations and possibly local authorities to show support for this development.

Is this equivalent to hello money in supermarkets that we are all upset about?

I call on all farmers affected by the proposed line all over the country to show support with us the frontline farmers of the northeast by attending the NEPP meeting in Trim on Tuesday 5 November.