Pylon concerns addressed by EU experts

Health issues arising from overhead cables, and the possibility of undergrounding the major EirGrid projects, will be addressed at a meeting in Trim on Monday, February 10.

Organised by Independent MEP Marian Harkin, a panel of EU experts will explore the possibility of undergrounding cables, and will discuss the possible health issues that may be associated with high voltage overhead cables.

The main speakers include Professor Dennis Henshaw of Bristol University, and Dr Volker Wendt, spokesman and representative for Europacable, the representative for the cable industry in Europe.

Concerns from the public will be addressed by Padraig O’Reilly of North East Pylon Pressure(NEPP). Representatives of EirGrid will also be invited to participate.

Marian Harkin MEP said she is organising the meeting in order to bring expertise to bear on what is “obviously a very emotive subject requiring clarification”.

“To date, the debate has been unbalanced with the combined voices of Government and EirGrid getting to the stage of brow beating the public into acceptance of what could prove very damaging and costly to the economy and to the people of Ireland,” began Ms Harkin.

“There is a fundamental need to tease out all of the implications of EirGrid’s €3.2 billion project in order to ensure that the citizens who will fund it will be getting value for money in the long term and no threat to the health to the many families who will be affected by the Grid25 project.

“The location of this meeting in Trim is because the area is affected by the planned cross-border grid which will set the yardstick for the other projects planned for the West and the South East”, the MEP concluded.