Madam, - I refer to the report in your edition of January 15th concerning the opposition of Meath councillors to the proposed high-voltage North-South interconnector pylons.
The proposed interconnector starts in Co Tyrone and ends in Co Meath, much of it travelling through rural Co Monaghan, where the pylons are also being vigorously opposed.
In contrast to its time in Opposition, the Green Party in Government has been remarkably silent on the use of pylons as opposed to underground cables. In the party's manifesto of 2002, when current Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan was the spokeperson on energy, the Greens assured the electorate that "we will ensure that the national grid is modernised to use underground cabling in isolated areas in order to allow more wind power to be harnessed offshore as well as on land."
I have been unable to locate any statement that would suggest this is no longer party policy. However, in recent comments on the interconnector, Mr Ryan has fully supported the use of pylons instead of underground cabling, except in built-up areas.
As a Co Monaghan resident who foolishly voted for the Green Party in the most recent election, I own up to being one of Patrick Kavanagh's Green Fools. - Yours, etc,
NAOISE GORDON, Annyalla, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.