"ESB shall seek to enforce its statutory power of access" where landowner consent is not forthcoming for North-South Interconnector works.
That was the message from EirGrid CEO Mark Foley in recent correspondence to Monaghan County Council.
Monaghan County Council asked EirGrid how it proposes to construct the North South Interconnector and develop new accesses onto private lands where no consent exists.
EirGrid CEO Mark Foley said "ESB shall seek to enforce its statutory power of access" where consent is not forthcoming.
However, he added that this would only be used "where necessary" and is "subject to a landowner's statutory entitlement to compensation".
At a recent County Council meeting, Noel Keelan said "this tells you the intentions of EirGrid".
He also called on the Council to "write to TDs to warn them of this intention to access lands".
Councillor Keelan also said he "doesn't believe" EirGrid's comments on the degree of local engagement with the North-South Interconnector project.
He asked the Council to write to EirGrid's CEO to get "updated information on how many landowners have agreed to works on their lands".
Councillor Seamus Coyle claimed that this figure is as low as 2 percent.
