At the preliminary hearing in the Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross, yesterday (Tuesday) were (from left) Pat Farrelly, Kingscourt, Kevin Smith, Lough An Leagh, Kevin Victory, Kingscourt, Cllr. David Blake, Kingscourt and Andrew Clarke, Muff.

Pylon hearing to be six weeks

Published: Wed 28 Apr 2010, 5:00 PM

The oral hearing into the proposed Meath-Tyrone 400KV Interconnection is expected to last between five and six weeks, given the number of interested parties that wish to voice concerns against the development proposed by Eirgrid. In advance of the full hearing, An Bord Pleanála held a preliminary hearing yesterday (Tuesday) in the Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross, to establish the agenda for the full hearings, due to start on May 10. The inspector Mary Cuneen and her assistant Una Cross heard from interested parties from Cavan and Monaghan who intended to make submissions and from those who would give information on behalf of some other party. Ms Cuneen wished to establish the approximate duration of the submissions and whether expert witnesses would be used or if a legal submission would be made. She also wanted to clarify whether a party intended to cross-question, if invited by her, or if intended to make a submission through Irish. An estimated 13 people/bodies from Cavan and Monaghan will make submissions. EirGrid, represented by SC Luan O'Braonain, will have 25 witnesses and will take four days to make their presentation. Cavan County Council will only require 15 minutes and will not be calling any expert witnesses. Cavan County Councillor David Blake said he would be attending the hearing, along with Senator Joe O'Reilly, while Kevin Victory stated he would be representing between 30 and 50 businesses from Kingscourt. Former Monaghan State Solicitor, Enda O'Carroll, who represents Monaghan County Council, stated they would require three hours and would have eight witnesses. Statutory bodies like the Department of the Environment require one hour, while the Department of Communication Energy and Natural resources require three hours, and An Taisce 30 hours. Deputy Caoimhghin O'Caolain told Ms. Cuneen he would have an expert witness and would require 45 minutes. Sean Conlon on behalf of the Monaghan Anti Pylon Group said they would be represented by Senior Counsel, would have four experts and ten witnesses in all. Monaghan Cllr. Owen Bannigan informed the preliminary meeting that he represented between 300 and 400 people in Monaghan. Inspector Cuneen stated that the purpose of the preliminary meeting was to progress and expedite the substantive hearing in an efficient manner. It was likely that substantive issues would not get under way until after lunch on May 10. "We will formulate an agenda following this preliminary hearing and get it out as soon as possible."