Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams TD raised the issue of pylons in the Dáil with the Taoiseach.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Adams accused the Taoiseach of "failing to deal with the questions he raised regarding the undergrounding of high powered electricity lines."

The Sinn Féin leader challenged the Taoiseach on EirGrid's proposal for the high voltage power lines and associated construction of major pylons in the Irish countryside.

-- Advertisement --

Mr Adams pointed out that the Programme for Government included a commitment by Fine Gael and Labour to "appoint an independent international expert commission to review and report, within six months, on a case for, and cost of, undergrounding (all or part of) Meath-Tyrone 400KV power lines."

He said that, to date, the Government had not allowed such an independent review to take place. He asked the Taoiseach when the government intended to do so and if, "considering the considerable public opposition to your pylon plans", would the Government now extend such a review to the rest of the state and whether, until such a process was carried out, would the government "postpone Eirgrid's proposed overhead pylons plans?"

In his reply, Mr Kenny failed to respond to the substance of any of Mr Adams's questions.

(CD/JP)