Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We can start our meeting. The question is that we defer the minutes of the private and public meetings on 22 and 23 May 2024 for agreement until the next private meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I wish to read some of our usual, formal notices before we start. I remind members of the constitutional requirements that members must be physically present within the confines of the place which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in the public meeting. I will not permit members to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

Our first item of business concerns petition No. P00030/23 to create a walking and cycling greenway on the closed railway from Sligo to Athenry. On behalf of the committee, I wish to extend a warm welcome to our witnesses from the Department of Transport today, namely, Mr. Garret Doocey, assistant secretary in the land transport division; and Ms Elizabeth Hayes, assistant principal officer from the national roads, greenways and active travel division. I also wish to acknowledge and welcome the petitioner, Mr. Brendan Quinn, and his fellow campaigner, Mr. John Mulligan, on behalf of the Western Rail Trail who have joined us in the Public Gallery to view proceedings today. Hopefully, some people from the Western Rail Trail will be able to join us online. Mr. Garret Doocey will read out his opening statement on behalf of the Department of Transport. I suggest Mr. Doocey makes his opening statement for approximately ten minutes. We will then have questions and comments from members. Each member will have approximately ten minutes. Members may speak more than once. I call Mr. Doocey to make his opening statement.