The High Court has rejected a challenge taken by North East Pylon Pressure Campaign against An Bord Pleanála's decision to provide planning permission for the erection of the North South Interconnector.

Sinn Fein Meath West Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín said: "Successive Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour government policy has been to force through the building hundreds of 45 meter high pylons, some as close as 50 meters to people’s homes carrying 400kv power lines, despite the damage this project would have potentially on tourism, agriculture, heritage and our landscape, not to mention to the value of family homes and farms.

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"The key element that is missing from the government's project is the will of the people with of 90% of land owners on the route stating categorically that they will not let Eirgrid on their land to construct this Interconnector over ground. For 10 years, the people of Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh, and Tyrone have fought this project, suggesting instead that the line should be placed underground.

"Over the years since this project was first mooted, the price of undergrounding has collapsed and the technology to facilitate it has improved massively."

(CD)