Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I call for an urgent debate on the Meath-Cavan 400 kv power line. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, published a report yesterday by an expert group which is welcome. Many previous reports have been welcomed and discussed. The Minister proposes to discuss it with the Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The Seanad should discuss this in a national context as the issues relevant to the position in Meath and Cavan are very relevant on a national basis, with plans by EirGrid to roll out significant electricity infrastructure around the country. The Seanad should play a role in that. There are many people with interests in the issue and it should not be confined to a joint committee where not everybody might get the opportunity to speak. That is an issue of significant concern, and Fine Gael and Labour made significant promises and commitments on this while in opposition. There were cash commitments for local interest groups, although these have been ruled out by the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. Neverthless, local Fine Gael Deputies promise that they are working on the issue. That is the same as all the local promises made in County Meath.