Prior to the introduction of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, we had a great debate on the legislation in this Chamber, chaired by Deputy Jerry Buttimer, involving many eminent speakers from all sides over four days. Siemens-Schuckert was the pioneer behind the power station at Ardnacrusha and rural electrification from 1927. It was a German company and a worldwide leader in power generation and engineering.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I have a good question for the Leader.

I want a debate in advance. Pylons, windmills, turbines and EirGrid proposals are very topical issues at the moment. With respect, not many people in the Seanad or the Oireachtas are familiar with the operation of any of those electricity generation methods. I call for a debate in this House similar to what we had for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. I suggest those pioneers should come back to this country after however many years it is.

How can they come back? They are all dead.

They have the worldwide experience, aswe have ourselves with young engineers. Men and women from the ESB have gone to far-away places, including eastern Europe and Africa showing how to expand. We need to expand. There are debates on overhead versus underground and the costs of wind turbines. We need the detailed costs and advantages of all systems, including the transmission difficulties of all systems-----

Should the Senator declare an interest in it?

----- for and against and covering operational and technical difficulties.

Is the Senator looking for a debate?

I am looking for a comprehensive debate with the experts and most importantly the independent experts-----

The Senator could hold a séance with John Kelly.

----- including the World Health Organization and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. We need to organise something similar to what we had previously and invite, importantly, independent experts.

Let us be led by the Independents. There will be people in favour of placing cables underground and overhead. However, I have to say before I go-----

The Senator is way over time.

-----what I heard on radio today that the magnetic forces from underground cables are greater than the electric and magnetic fields, EMFs, around pylons is the greatest load of rubbish I have ever heard.