Why are the people of Laois not being afforded the same opportunity to have high-voltage power cables placed underground?

It is because the Senator has no Taoiseach in Laois.

I will tell the House why. This EirGrid expansion is being built for the benefit of big wind-farm developers who want to destroy the countryside with industrial wind farms within 500 m of people's homes.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I do. I want the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to come to the House and explain why the planning laws are different in two different parts of the country. Why do we have the biggest conflict of interest in this country between the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, EirGrid and the wind-energy developers who want to impose these giant industrial wind farms on top of people's homes? I am now warning-----

The Senator can make those points during the debate. I call Senator Cullinane.

I want to alert the Leader and the Government that the public's patience is wearing thin and people will not have these wind farms imposed on top of their farms, families and houses.