LEGAL VIEW IS THAT LIFESPAN OF INTERCONNECTOR PLANNING PERMISSION IS INDEFINITE

PETER HUGHES

Legal opinion obtained by Monaghan Co Council planners indicates that there is no time restriction on the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála to EirGrid to construct the north-south interconnector project, Monday’s meeting of the local authority was told. Counsel has also advised that ESB Networks is entitled to act for EirGrid in engagements with the planning authorities with regard to compliance with the conditions of the permission granted for the project.

The first monthly meeting of the newly elected Co Council saw a reaffirmation of the elected members’ commitment to the undergrounding of the controversial electricity transmission development and support for the communities campaigning in this regard. This arose from a proposal made by Noel Keelan of Sinn Féin and seconded by his party colleague Sinéad Flynn. Despite some politically charged debate, there was also unanimous support for the proposal of P J O’Hanlon (Fianna Fáil) that the five TDs for Cavan/Monaghan and Sinn Féin Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland John O’Dowd MLA be invited to a future Council meeting to discuss the interconnector issue.

Also adopted was a proposal from Cathaoirleach Cathy Bennett (Sinn Féin) seeking information on the total amount of taxpayers’ money that had been spent to date on the interconnector project. Summarising the legal opinion obtained, Senior Planner Adrian Hughes said that the…