John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to let the opportunity go by without reiterating what my colleagues have said. I welcome this project. I know the NTA and the TII want to deliver it. I have queries about its southern link, given that I represent a constituency that basically has been abandoned from the perspective of modern infrastructure. That is an argument for another day. It was mentioned in the response that multiple alternatives were looked at. One hundred different alternatives were mentioned, as were tens of alternative specific sites. Given this location is the one that is selected for entry under the ground essentially, did it raise any red flags when it was examined? That is the first question. If it did not, I must ask why and if it did, why was there no engagement with the groups that are represented here today?

I welcome Mr. Nolan's commitment to ongoing consultation and assistance. Financial assistance would be great but I have never known of it previously. I see a head shaking over there. What is plan B in this regard? As much access as possible should be given to these groups to assist them to access information. There should be an open door on that. The groups should keep compiling the questions and if they run up against a road block, their public representatives are here to help them. I would, however, try to adopt an open door here. No one wants this scheme delayed. It is an ambitious timeline, given my experience of other infrastructural projects. Were alternative sites looked at for the planned entry underground? The emerging plan is to locate it and decimate the areas that people are representing here. What alternatives were looked at and why were they discounted? Will the presentations being made here today be accepted as part of the public consultation process? Will they form part of the public consultation process and-----