Fine Gael TD Sean Conlan has resigned from the party.

He said his resignation was because “individuals at the top” of Fine Gael were not listening to the concerns of people “on the ground” about the contentious North South Interconnector.

The plan, involving a cross-Border network of pylons and high-voltage lines, has met with considerable opposition in Counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan.

Mr Conlan is one of three Fine Gael deputies in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency, along with Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys and backbencher Joe O’Reilly.

“My father my grandfather they were all involved in Fine Gael and we were always proud to be involved in Fine Gael and rep FG but sometimes you feel FG is not supporting you,” he said.

“The individuals at the top were not listening to us on the ground in terms of what we want to do and in terms of this project alone, the North South interconnector, I don’t think they’ve been listening to us,” he told Northern Sound, his local radio station.

“So I believe it’s very important for me personally to be true to myself and go out there and represent the views of the people here in Monaghan and Cavan from now on as an Independent.”