I am sure my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, was not advocating forced labour for the children involved. He did make an interesting point, nonetheless. Tacaím go mór leis an méid adúirt mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Marc MacSharry, maidir leis an Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, an Teachta Rabbitte. We have seen the Minister's original high-handed dismissal of the proposed burying of the power lines softening in the light of public reaction. It is clear that what was announced yesterday has nothing to do with the erection of pylons and has everything to do with the election or non-election of Government candidates in the local and European elections. For once, the Government is being transparent because this is clearly a pre-election stunt.

That is surely a first.

We have learned also that wind energy companies are planning to lay more than 200 km of high voltage electricity cables underground across five midland counties. Does that not undermine the Government's previous insistence that burying power lines was not feasible?