Mr. Glenn Carr:

We cannot get away from the fact that the train is 75% more fuel efficient. Even if trucks go to hydrogen, the train will still be far more efficient in that regard. However, we have to put the infrastructure in at the ports. We know the rail infrastructure is there, so we are looking at a sizeable site, for instance around Limerick Junction. It is already there. The land is there and it is rail connected. We are in discussions even with the likes of people in the IDA who are trying to identify future land banks for manufacturing sites. A key part of any company that will be looking to come to Ireland now is how it will move its supply chain. A simple fact is they want rail as an option. We must provide the rail-based options for these companies.

The supply chain will adapt. Certainly, we take great comfort from talking to major industries throughout the country that are telling us they want to shift from road to rail. There will still be a road element in that, but when we are talking about substantial employers in this country, and when we talk about the corporation tax, these are very important employers, they want to see a rail-based solution in this country. It makes sense. It can be efficient.

I totally disagree that rail has to be done over substantial long journeys. There are many examples across Europe and elsewhere where shorter base rail journeys are across many industries. It is no longer just for heavy bulk product. We are the only country in which the retailer Zara is present where it cannot move its product by rail. It is a clothes company which, as part of its sustainable offering, it is not just about the manufacturing of its clothing but also about how it moves that clothing. We really need to ensure we drive the rail strategy that will see us move from 1% to 17%. It is easy to say rail only takes 1%. Of course it does. Look at the offering we give today. No wonder it is only 1%. We have to rethink and look for the next five, ten and 15 years at what industry is demanding and certainly what society will demand in terms of cities that will be emission-free going forward. That can only be achieved with rail.