Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte and Independent TD Mattie McGrath traded insults of an agricultural nature in a row about electricity lines in a €500 million Eirgrid high-voltage project linking Leinster and Munster.

Mr McGrath claimed it was the norm in Europe to place power lines underground and questioned why the Government had allowed consideration of pylons to go ahead. The project would damage tourism in the Galtee and Knockmealdown mountains in Tipperary.

He also hit out at the consultation on the project, claiming “the people of Tipperary are not going to allow these to go ahead”.

Mr McGrath said: “You seem to be like everyone else, just letting them do what they like and just rub your hands and say it’s all someone else’s fault.”

Mr Rabbitte told the Tipperary South TD: “You’re like Katty Barry’s dog, Deputy. You go a bit of the road with everyone.”

Mr McGrath claimed that when in opposition, Mr Rabbitte had objected to overhead pylons in a controversial project in Minister of State Fergus O'Dowd's Louth constituency.
Mr Rabbitte said: "I never opened my mouth on that one and you'll have €100 if you can prove to the contrary."

He insisted the overhead pylon was still the norm in Europe and it cost 3½ times more to put power lines underground.

Mr McGrath retorted: “You’re like Mrs Murphy’s cow with two dry tits – one blind tit and a sup of milk in the other tit. That’s all you’re like, Minister. It’s like the promises you make. Who can trust you for anything if you go back and see and maybe count the tits on Mrs Murphy’s cow?”

Mr Rabbitte replied: “Well, whatever about the tits on Mrs Murphy’s cow, to be honest that contribution, Deputy, is about as useful as tits on a bull.”