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Updated 13.43
THE CHAIRMAN DESIGNATE of Eirgrid has said that he will discuss with the minister whether or not to reconsider his nomination.
John O’Connor made his comments after a bruising encounter with the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications in which he admitted that he personally would not like to live beside an electricity pylon.
The committee were questioning him on his proposed appointment as the chair of the state-owned electricity transmission company.
Asked by Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan whether he personally would like to live beside an electricity pylon, O’Connor responded, “I wouldn’t like to live close to a pylon, but who would?”
Pushed later on his response by Independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, O’Connor said that he would not like to live beside a pylon because it would “affect the amenity of the house” and “would be visually intrusive”. This would only be the case “if it were too close”, said O’Connor.
Questioned by Flanagan what he considered close to be, O’Connor answered “maybe 50 metres”.
The new appointment appointment comes as Eirgrid plans to erect large electricity pylons, as part of an update to the country’s energy infrastructure.
O’Connor also “refuted emphatically” that he would have a conflict of interest in his new position having previously been the chairman of An Bord Pleanála.
Speaking before the committee this morning, O’Connor said that he left An Bord Pleanála in June 2011 and his standing with the company was now “the same as any other citizen”.
O’Connor was chairman of An Bord Pleanála for 11 years from 2000 but he said today that the doesn’t feel he has “any unique knowledge” of the planning process.
O’Connor said that when approached by Environment Minister Phil Hogan who gauged his interest in the position, O’Connor said that the Minister did not make any specific reference to his experience in An Bord Pleanála.
He said that that this was likely “a deliberate” decision by the Minister not to mention his previous role as head of the state planning board.
Incoming chairman of Eirgrid John O’Connor pictured at committee today. Pic: Oireachtas/Screengrab
Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley said that his party will not be supporting O’Connor’s nomination as he felt that there was a “mismatch” between the his experience and his suitability for the role as it currently exists.
“There is a concern among community groups that your knowledge of the planning process will effect communities acting against Eirgrid, ” he said.
Dooley told O’Connor that he believes he has unique insight into how decisions are taken, something which could ”put Eirgrid in a dominant position” in disputes with communities.
O’Connor flatly rejected all of these charges, saying that he would not be taking a hands-on role in individual planning applications. He said that his role would primarily be in setting policy for Eirgrid and that “there won’t be any back door phone calls”.
Dooley asked O’Connor for a commitment to “dissociate yourself totally” from the planning and application processes.
O’Connor responded by saying that that, once a proposal is made, he will have no involvement but that he “couldn’t as chairperson of the company have nothing to do with the main issues around the proposals”.
Before his tenure with An Bord Pleanála O’Connor worker for 30 years in the Department of the Environment and he said that he has consistently worked to protect the environment. “If anyone thinks I’m going into Eirgrid to damage my life’s work then I would have a problem with that, ” he said.
A public consultation on the Leinster-Munster power line scheme has been undertaken and O’Connor said that he believes strongly that engagement as a rule is meaningful. He requested that communities wait for the report of the consultation process before making any judgments.
Sinn Féin deputy Michael Colreavy said that the main point on the agenda of consultations should be on whether the power lines go overground or underground and if this decision has already been taken consultations are meaningless
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So the practice of arranged marriages continues… behind closed doors, unless some poor girl is strong enough to report her parents . Very sad ..
But now she can report them. That is why this law was brought in, to make sure that if it does happen, there is a law to help the victims of it.
Some of these girls are as young as 9 and some have been ‘married’ to 70 year old members of their own family. If the girls are ‘strong enough’ try to do anything about it the result is usually an ‘honour killing’ or an acid attack. Provided that the unfortunates have survived FGM.
The law will not be able to protect her from her family .
Did not the Prophet[p on Him] not marry a child of about 9?
No she was 7 but the marriage was consecrated when she was 9. Pbuh.
@mjhint – I think you meant consummated when she was 9. Just in case anyone is in any doubt over the ‘prophet’ and his actions concerning his child bride.
The subcontinent is culturally an extremely backward place. Gang rape, FGM and arranged (aka forced) marriages are commonplace.
The need for a force specifically to tackle this problem in the UK is what happens when a microcosm of that society is created within a modern Western nation.
This is why very gradual, controlled immigration is the only way forward, to avoid ghettoisation and the proliferation of subcultures.
Ireland should waste no time in following suit.
It’s a start but how do you ban something that’s ‘hidden’ & ‘cultural?’ Barbaric practice!
A great day for so many young girls throughout the world that have to endure archaic practices that serve no benefit. People who force their daughters into these sham marriages should be ashamed of themselves.
The law against arranged marriages is for the UK only .
This is definitely a move in the right direction by the British Government. The Irish Government and other Governments all over the world should pass similar legislation and make sure it is enforced.
You don’t seriously think that will stop the practice, FGM (female genital mutilation is against the law but it still goes on)
I have an interest in forced divorce. Let’s see if the Registrar General acts now.
I find interesting the image you have chosen be used in this article…
I was at a forced marriage last weekend. A girl who thought she should get married to the guy she’s doesn’t live cos she was ‘that’ age and daren’t be single. Forced marriages are sad.
have your say