Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh Shaun, Seán, Bernice, Marie agus Breandán anseo inniu. One thing that was very important for me to hear today was to hear every one of the witnesses say they are not against a railway being developed, if that is going to happen. That was very important and it was made clear. To prove it to everybody, in his summing up Mr. Mulligan stated that: "... if the railway is going to be reopened from Athenry to Claremorris, then get on with it, and at the same time put in a parallel greenway, [it is a] a perfectly safe and feasible option." I agree with this by the way. Then he stated that: "If the railway is going on the permanent long finger ... and will not happen for ten or 20 years, at best, [then] let us have a greenway now until such a time as the railway is possible..." That is totally in order. The other thing that was really important to me was the honest way every one of the witnesses presented their case today. That is important for members of this committee. I totally agree with the Cathaoirleach that we must bring to officials from Mayo County Council in. I will not say too much more today except to say the witnesses should be listened to and the points they made should be taken into account.

I will go back very briefly to what Mr. Quinn said. He stated that Mayo County Council disagreed with its CEO, if I am reading it correctly. Something was put into the county development plan which virtually blocked dealing with the submissions and blocked that proposed development going ahead under the present county development plan. Am I correct in saying that? That is obviously why the witnesses are here today. I want to add to that because, I think Ms Brennan said that part of that railway line in Kiltimagh has been developed for another purpose.