Press Release

Assembly Committee Welcomes Public Enquiry into New Electricity Lines

The Assembly Committee for the Environment today welcomed the announcement by Minister Edwin Poots MLA that a Public Enquiry is to be held on Northern Ireland Electricity’s North/South Interconnector planning application. The planning application is to allow installation of an overhead electricity line through Armagh and parts of Tyrone to support the provision of an all-island electricity market.

Committee Chairperson, Cathal Boylan MLA, said: “The Committee lobbied the Department of the Environment for a public enquiry into the planning application after receiving letters of concern from Armagh and Dungannon Councils and a local community group over the installation of an overhead line instead of underground.

“The Minister’s announcement today will come as a relief to people in the areas affected. They will now have the opportunity to make their serious concerns known directly to the Planning Appeals Commission.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Committee Membership:

Mr. Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr. Patsy McGlone (Deputy Chair)
Mr. Roy Beggs
Mr. Jonathan Bell
Mr. John Dallat
Mr. Danny Kinahan
Mr. Ian McCrea
Mr. Daithi McKay
Mr. Alastair Ross
Mr. Peter Weir
Mr. Brian Wilson