Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Seán Kenny and Michael Fitzmaurice. I have to speak in the debate on the social welfare Bill.

I thank the delegates for their presentations. Sometimes with presentations one receives a slide with the words, "This slide has intentionally been left blank." When I look at the map, north of the Sligo to Dublin line there is a big blank space and I am tempted to say it has also intentionally been left blank. People will remember the closure of the Enniskillen to Sligo narrow-gauge railway line. It ran through Manorhamilton and Collooney and its closure represented a huge loss to that part of the country. I also remember the closure of the freight service between Sligo and Dublin. That decision never made sense to me and still does not.

Deputies Helen McEntee and Dessie Ellis referred to the mixed message coming from Iarnród Éireann. It is anxious to promote and develop infrastructure, but because of a lack of funding has to focus on existing infrastructure. I understand this. I am intrigued when Mr. Dawson says he would welcome public or private interest in investment. I would like to hear more on the potential for private investment. Will he expand on what the advantages would be in terms of network flexibility?

There seems to be friction between proponents of the greenway and West on Track. It strikes me as a little like the musical, "Oklahoma". Perhaps the farmers and the cowmen should be friends. Some of the friction almost seems to be due to personal differences. Is it all or nothing or are there opportunities for co-existence between the proponents of the greenway and West-on-Track in the interim?