Pylon protestors disappointed with government support

Political parties at national level have pledged support for the North East Pylon Pressure campaign"s objective of getting the proposed EirGrid North South high voltage powerlines put underground. But the campaigners have expressed disappointment in what they say is a lack of support from Fianna Fáil and the Green Party. This follows meetings between NEPP and senior politicians and the energy spokesmen in Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin, as well as a day long briefing in Dublin for TDs and senators. Fine Gael"s Simon Coveney has requested a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Energy (JOCE) to hear evidence from ASKON Group, the German consultants that recommended the cables could and should be put underground. Deputy Coveney has also requested that the JOCE carry out a fact-finding visit to Denmark, where the government and the political parties have agreed that all future 400Kv lines go underground. He has written to EirGrid requesting it does not lodge a planning application for the North South project until the Joint Oireachtas Committee completes its discussions on the issue. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD confirmed his party"s policy is to put the cables underground and he told NEPP they will formally reiterate that as party policy at their Ard Fheis next February. He said Sinn Féin"s role will be crucial because the party is in government in the north where the ultimate decision on the project will be made by a minister of the executive, not a planning board. Liz McManus TD said Labour supports the convening of the Joint Oireachtas Committee to fully discuss the ASKON report. NEPP spokesman, Liam Cahill, said: 'Fianna Fáil and Green Party representatives were conspicuous by their absence from a recent series of public meetings to update people on the campaign. Fianna Fáil TDs told us clearly they will not vote for a motion in the Dáil to make it national policy for EirGrid to put the cables underground, if such a motion is put down in the New Year. Furthermore, we have not had a satisfactory response to our requests to meet Ministers Eamon Ryan, Noel Dempsey and Brendan Smith.' NEPP is calling on everyone in the North East who supports the underground campaign to make their views known urgently and in no uncertain terms to Fianna Fáil and Green Party TDs, Senators, councillors and candidates. 'People need to write, email, telephone or visit FF and Green representatives to demand that they listen to the international experts and show some real leadership by ensuring that an undergrounding strategy is adopted for this country,' Mr. Cahill said.