Prendergast cannot have it both ways
on EirGrid – Ní Riada
15 January, 2014 - by Liadh Ní Riada (EU candidate)
Sinn Féin’s EU candidate for the
constituency of Ireland South, Liadh Ní Riada, has stated that Labour party
Mep, Phil Prendergast, cannot have it both ways on EirGrid.
Ms Ní Riada was responding to
comments made by Prendergast in which she likened the building of pylons to the
“rape of the countryside”.
She also voiced her strong concerns
regarding health risks associated with pylons.
Ní Riada said:
“I appreciate the Labour Party MEP’s
concerns even if her language was designed to grab headlines. However, Phil
Prendergast cannot have it both ways on EirGrid.
“She is a member of a government
party that is pushing these pylons on the people of rural Munster and South
Leinster. Perhaps she should be challenging her own party colleagues regarding
their stance on EirGrid rather than seeking headlines.
“Pat Rabbitte has been the main
government cheerleader for the EirGrid proposal.
“Minister Rabbitte said, as far as he
is concerned, that there were no health concerns regarding the building of
pylons. He added that a national agency of government, such as EirGrid, has no
vested interest in exposing people to risk.
“This directly contradicts what Health
Minister Dr James Reilly said about the issue.
“Expert reports have conclusively
shown that high voltage energy lines increase the risk of cancer, particularly
for children.
“Nobody trusts Minister Rabbitte on
this or any issue given his comments on TV when he said that Labour
deliberately told lies during the last election.
“The bottom-line is that Phil
Prendergast cannot have it both ways on what is a very serious matter for
people in affected communities. It is the height of hypocrisy for her to come out
with such statements while failing to challenge her colleagues and party
leadership on the matter in any meaningful way.
“She is the part of an organisation
that bears a weight of responsibility for all of this. She is at best
complicit.
“If she has no confidence in Minister
Rabbitte then she should say so. However, if the Minister is misleading people,
deliberately or as result of ignorance, he should resign.”
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
No comments:
Post a Comment