I also welcome our guests to the Chamber.

A decision is imminent from An Bord Pleanála on the proposed North-South interconnector project, notwithstanding the fact that great anger has been expressed at the proposal by communities in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath. I understand a decision from the board is due in the next number of weeks. Residents are very angry and disappointed that the overground option was the only one considered by An Bord Pleanála. When the project was first mooted, it was claimed that the underground option would be 20 times more expensive than the overground option. That claim has changed and it is now estimated that the underground option would be less than twice the cost of the overground option. We were also told by EirGrid that the underground option was not possible from a technical and engineering perspective. The company has since retracted what it stated and now accepts that it is possible for the overhead lines to be run underground. People in the affected communities believe they were ignored by the last Government and that the buck was passed to EirGrid and An Bord Pleanála. A number of issues have arisen since the original planning application, not least the issue of Brexit. I do not know what the Government's thoughts are on that issue. Have the Government, EirGrid and An Bord Pleanála considered the implications of Brexit for the North-South interconnector project? Could Brexit affect the decision of An Bord Pleanála? Will the Leader ask the relevant Minister to come to the House in the new year to address this very important issue?

I join Members in wishing the Cathaoirleach and all of the staff of both Houses a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a very healthy, prosperous and happy new year.

I welcome publication of the 2015 annual report of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Since its establishment in 2005, the ombudsman's office has successfully provided an impartial and independent review mechanism for complaints submitted by serving or former members of the Defence Forces. For those who are not satisfied with the handling of their complaints under the redress of wrongs procedure, the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces offers an accessible means of redress. In addition, the office performs an oversight role in the administration of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence and makes recommendations on administrative and systematic reforms. While the ombudsman was full of praise for the high level of ongoing engagement between his office, military authorities, representative associations and the Department of Defence, he expressed strong concern that the system included delays which were unacceptable and stated a co-ordinated effort to reduce them was necessary.

Members will be aware that I have raised in this House on two occasions in Commencement debates the specific case of a lieutenant colonel. I have pointed out that delays in the Department of Defence responding to findings of the ombudsman are causing severe distress and some complaints. In the case of the aforementioned lieutenant colonel, the ombudsman has made certain recommendations for the resolution of issues, but that is all that he can do - make recommendations to the Minister. To date, there has been no response from the Department and the claimant has been forced to take the matter to the courts, which is totally unacceptable. While the powers of the ombudsman are limited to making recommendations to the Minister, the final resolution of the complaint requires a response from the Minister to the ombudsman's report. In the particular case to which I refer, there has been no final closure. I strongly believe excessive delays undermine the legislative intent of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 and hampers the role of the ombudsman in the full execution of his remit. I have raised the case as a Commencement matter and also called for a debate in this House on the Defence Forces. I would like the role of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces included in that debate.

The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is severely hampered. I understand the current ombudsman is only working three days per week because of cutbacks. That is simply not good enough. The number of cases grew between 2008 and 2015, although, thankfully, there was a reduction in 2016. However, we now have people waiting two to three years for a resolution, which does not bode well for informal solutions to problems. I ask the Leader to include this issue in the forthcoming debate.

I wish the Cathaoirleach and the staff of Leinster House in general but particularly the staff of Seanad Éireann a very happy Christmas. I hope 2017 will bring them more than they ever wished for.