James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Walsh and Mr. O'Neill. First and foremost, I compliment TII on all the work going on at the Dunkettle interchange. It is fantastic to see the level of progress and the project is really starting to come together. I travelled over the junction in recent days and over the past three or four months, and it is staggering to see how quickly it is moving along. I say "Well done" to Mr. Paul Moran and everyone working on the project.

Similarly, I compliment the work being done in Ballyvourney and Macroom. It will have a significant impact on travel between Kerry and the rest of the country. Particularly for people in our neck of the woods who travel in that direction, it will make a big difference, so I am delighted to see it happen.

Representatives of the Irish Road Haulage Association recently appeared before the committee and explained some of the main challenges road hauliers are facing. Fuel efficiency is, obviously, a considerable concern. Another issue that has been raised me - I think it is a fair point on which, I hope, we can make a bit of progress together - relates to barrier-free tolling for hauliers, whether eFlow tags can be given to them such that they will not have to stop at the port tunnel, or in general. We could do some work on that issue. I would greatly appreciate if TII could examine the issue to make the motorway system more efficient for lorries such that they will not be held up at barriers. I refer in particular to Dublin Port Tunnel, where it has been highlighted as an issue. Will our guests engage with Mr. Eugene Drennan and the Irish Road Haulage Association in regard to the issue?