Sinn Féin is urging the public to give their opinions over the north south interconnector.

The public consultation period on the planning application began on Tuesday, 16 June, and MEP for the Midlands North West Matt Carthy is calling on the public to voice their concerns.

Mr Carthy said: "Unfortunately, due to the Strategic Infrastructure Act enacted by the Fianna Fáil government with the support of Fine Gael the planning process for the North South Interconnector is, in my view, flawed.

"However, that should not prevent interested individuals and communities engaging with the ten week public consultation process and during which time the public may provide submissions and observations to An Bord Pléanala."

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The consultation is open until Monday 24 August.

Mr Carthy continued: "Sinn Féin representatives have been working closely with all those groups and communities in Counties Monaghan, Armagh, Cavan, Tyrone and Meath who have been engaged in a campaign since 2007 against the EirGrid and NIE plans to impose 400kv overhead power-lines and associated pylons on their landscapes.

"The concerns are very real; there are genuine worries for health, our environment, the landscape, the economic development of the areas concerned.

"The communities concerned have made their position crystal clear – the North South Interconnector can only proceed on the basis that it is undergrounded. Sinn Féin fully supports that position and we will be preparing our own submission to An Bord Pléanala on this issue."

(CD/JP)