Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To come back to the current logjam with Galway County Council, it is important to note, and we are all aware, that there was a significant bereavement in Galway County Council involving a director of services who was dealing with these issues. Our thoughts go to his family and his colleagues. Has that had an impact on the project moving forward? Is that one of the reasons for the logjam? If not, what reasons has Galway County Council given Mr. Fitzgerald for the delay? Is the delay due to a lack of staffing and expertise in Galway County Council or too great a workload? Has the council farmed out the work to consultants? Is the problem the lack of consultants or that the consultants are not returning the material quickly enough? Has Galway County Council given Mr. Fitzgerald an explanation on that? Can he shed any light on it?

On the imperative reasons of overriding public interest, IROPI, scenario, Mr. Fitzgerald works with his counterparts across all the member states of the European Union. My understanding is that IROPI is used extensively in countries such as Portugal, Spain, Italy and Germany. I have looked at quite a number of projects that have been brought forward. They include roads and electricity projects, shopping centres and other projects, yet this country has not put forward one IROPI project. Why are we afraid of putting forward an IROPI case? The section from Maam to Clifden would be an ideal scenario in which to try that and we should just get on with it rather than "faffing" around as is happening now. What is Mr. Fitzgerald's sense of it from dealing with his counterparts who do similar work across Europe?

Also, are there other member states with significant populations of the freshwater pearl mussel? Have they encountered similar issues and, if so, did they come up with any solutions as to how to progress projects of major importance?