Varadkar: No point in electing anti-pylon candidates

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has questioned the reasoning behind anti-pylon candidates running in the local elections.

The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign, which is against a cross-border pylon connection, says it may run candidates in the May poll.

Minister Leo Varadkar says Councillors will not have any role in decisions on pylons.

"It wouldn't be unusual for candidates to put their names forward on a single issue," he said.

"But when it comes to the local elections, they're not about a single issue, and in fact decision on pylons are made by an Bord Pleanála, not by the Council.

"So you would have to ask what the benefit would be of electing a Councillor about an issue over which the Council has no control."