A Fianna Fáil motion calling for an independent assessment of the North-South interconnector project has been passed in the Seanad.

Senator Robbie Gallagher said the Government must take action to analyse the real cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector.

He said: "While Fianna Fáil supports the upgrading of the national grid to ensure the security of the electricity supply, and to boost economic growth, the current proposal to build pylons across the North East, through communities and residential areas is simply not acceptable given the health, environmental and heritage concerns.

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"The fact that Eirgrid only submitted an application for overground pylons and failed to consider the merits or the possibility of undergrounding the power lines shows a blatant discrimination against the people of the North East. Why has the Government not listened to their concerns and investigated them? When similar concerns were raised over Grid West and Grid East, analysis of an undergrounding option was undertaken. Why is this not the case for the North-South interconnector?

"Fianna Fáil is calling on the Government to immediately commission an independent report to analyse the real cost of undergrounding this project."

(CD/LM)