Yesterday was the international day against racism. A very rushed action plan against racism was launched. I thank the committee, which worked really hard on the plan to tackle racism within Irish society. I request that we have statements on the plan, because a lot of the time we have great plans but we do not have action. That is one point.

This evening there will be a vote in the Dáil on the removal of the eviction ban. Sometimes when we speak up, we are seen as being far left or that we do not have any common sense. I see so many people homeless within our society. There are so many single mothers with two to five kids struggling even to get accommodation. This evening, the Government is going to remove the eviction ban. For the record, I stand in support with my colleague, Deputy Pringle, who will vote in favour of the people.

I might get into trouble for saying this, but although I would vote against the Government, I think if you have an agreement with a colleague on maternity leave, given that it is very tough for women to take maternity leave, you should stand with the person you made the agreement with. As a mother myself who went on maternity leave for four months, I am really disappointed that while we got somewhere with maternity leave, this agreement would not go ahead. If we are going to support women in the Houses, we must look at how we are going to stick by our word because letting somebody down at the last minute is not the right thing to do.

Last night the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications published the report of the expert independent review on the North-South interconnector project. It is simply unbelievable that a Green Party Minister could stand over this report, whereby 300 megastructures - pylons - will be put across the landscape of Meath, Cavan, and Monaghan, and that he can think this is environmentally good. The last time I checked, I thought the Green Party was for the environment, but somehow steel megastructures going through historically sensitive areas is okay. Perhaps the environment only exists within the confines of Dublin and not beyond it. This independent report just looked at the various other reports that were done down through the years. This has been going on for 15 years. The Leader, Senator Doherty, and I have long been working on this issue. Going back to a report in 2008 it was acknowledged that undergrounding technology "is noted to play an important role in urban and congested areas, or where site specific environmental constraints occur, for example, within areas of outstanding scenic beauty". It is reprehensible that the consistent concerns of public representatives and the public are not acknowledged. What are we trading off here in terms of the constant calls for energy security vis-à-vis the desecration for decades if not hundreds of years to come by what is being purported here?

At a briefing yesterday evening, which disgracefully was held at short notice-----

Tá an t-am caite.

I will finish on this point. It was put forward by Department officials that EirGrid officials would now consult landowners. They have had 15 years of botched efforts where they have not listened to the concerns of ordinary people.

I thank Senator Cassells.

I doubt they are now going to take it upon themselves to have genuine concern for ordinary people. We will continue to make their case.

I thank Senator Cassells very much.

You will be hearing a lot more of it in here as well, a Chathaoirligh.