Farry welcomes Dublin High Court approval for north-south interconnector

Approval for the scheme, which is designed to give Northern Ireland greater access to generating capacity in the south, was challenged by a pressure group after originally being granted in December. However, today the judge said there was “no lawful reason” to overturn the original permission.

“This hopefully gives a greater degree of certainty to what is a vital infrastructure investment for the island of Ireland,” said Dr Farry.

“It is now important the go-ahead is given by the Planning Appeals Commission in Northern Ireland, and the necessary Ministerial approvals follow thereafter. This second north-south interconnector is vital for our energy security and also managing costs. Investments such as these are crucial to provide economies of scale and flexibility in our energy system.

“It is logical we should seek to maximise co-operation on an all-island basis, and this project is therefore a clear and tangible illustration of the opportunities for and benefits of pragmatic north-south co-operation.

“We now have a single energy market on the island, and this is one of the critical aspects of co-operation that must be considered and protected under Brexit.”