Minister tries to fob off community
concerns on pylons – Carthy
14 November, 2013 - by Monaghan -- Matt Carthy
The Sinn Féin EU candidate for the
Midlands North West constituency, Matt Carthy, has hit out at Minister Pat
Rabbitte for trying to dismiss community concerns on pylons as “not well
founded”.
Carthy made his remarks in response
to a statement issued by the minister this week.
Councillor Carthy said:
“I am disappointed that Minister Pat
Rabbitte has fobbed off the concerns of citizens opposed to the construction by
EirGrid of high voltage overhead powerlines and associated pylons in a
statement this week. His remarks raise serious doubts on the assertions
of Fine Gael and Labour representatives across the counties affected by
EirGrid’s proposals that they are bringing the views of communities to the
highest level in government.
“In his statement the minister
suggests that the concerns expressed by communities across the proposed routes
of these pylons are ‘not well founded’. Clearly the government are
hearing the people but not listening to them.
“There are genuine concerns by
residents who are expected to live along the routes of these power-lines over
the impact on land values, agriculture, tourism and the potential consequences
on human health. All of these concerns have been validated by
international evidence.
“For example, a significant body of
research by Professor Draper of Oxford University in 2005 found that living
within 200 metres of high-voltage power-lines increases a child’s chance of
getting cancer by 69% and within 600 metres it was increased by an average of
20%. Previous studies have found cancer clusters associated with
high-voltage power-lines. Those living in the vicinity have been found to
have a higher chance of suffering from lung cancer and leukemia. While
there is even a chance that these risks exist it should surely be the policy of
government to err on the side of caution.
“This is especially the case
considering there is a viable and feasible alternative for EirGrid and the
government.
“Undergrounding the power-lines is
the safest and best option and has been recognised by an International Expert
Commission, employed by the government as ‘a viable option’.
“Fianna Fáil and the Green party
refused to listen to the views of communities on this issue while they were in
government. I fear that Fine Gael and Labour are intent on doing the same.
I would appeal to the minister and the government to listen to the views of
residents across the border, midlands, western and south east areas and not
allow a situation develop where land-owners and their communities are pitted
against the state. It is clear that the resolve of people living along
these routes is resolute. Therefore, in
order to save time, money and good-will the government and EirGrid should
develop a policy which could see Ireland become a world leader in the
development of Underground Electric technology.
“Minister Rabbitte and his government
colleagues would do well to stop burying their heads in the sand and start
listening to the people on this issue”.
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
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