An Irish language protester had to be ejected from a Bord Pleanala oral hearing in Dungloe in Co Donegal yesterday after proceedings were disrupted for nearly an hour.
The hearing into a proposed ESB substation at Arduns was adjourned twice after the man continued to talk over witnesses and quote from the Constitution in Irish. When the inspector chairing the hearing left the room the man took his seat. Irish language speakers have objected that the hearing is being heard in English and simultaneous translation facilities have not been provided. An Bord Pleanala has said a translator will be present from today and people will then be able to address the hearing in Irish. Arduns is in a Gaeltacht area.
The visual impact of the proposed substation was dealt with yesterday. A resident, Ms Marie Hall, said she wanted to make "a personal plea" for the station to be relocated and that the ESB plan to screen it was not satisfactory.
Mr Anthony O'Neill, an architect for the ESB, said: "The visual impact of the proposed substation would be minimal with the exception of two locations, due to the lack of screening by existing tree coverage." Mr John O'Sullivan of An Taisce, which is objecting to the development, said it would "intrude significantly" on views from the road. The ESB also suggested a number of "potential mitigation measures" to lessen the visual impact. Residents said the substation would be an eyesore when nearby forests were cut.