Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Meade very much. Before I bring in our first speaker, Senator Dooley, I want to say that it was appreciated how promptly Irish Rail responded to the request to come before the committee. Indeed, I believe the company heard about this invitation before it received it. It is appreciated that the company came in and made itself available. I am sure I am not alone in the view that the new timetable was nothing short of a disaster both for Irish Rail and for the travelling public. As of last week, and as a person who uses the train six times a week at a minimum, I can say that I arrived at Leinster House or to my home in Malahide on time once while travelling mostly off peak.

The knock-on impact of the timetable was therefore profound and I can only imagine what it must be like for people making longer journeys. I am aware some members commute using the company's services. I am pleased to have the witnesses here but also to note they are recognising the difficulty they put a lot of people in, as demonstrated in both the opening statement and the intention to change the timetable.

I am sure members have numerous questions, as I have, on the potential for the network across the board and how wonderful that potential is. However, it is incumbent upon Irish Rail to maintain the existing level of service and enhance it, where possible. It is clear that is not possible at the moment on the northern commuter line and the Maynooth line. Maybe it will be with some further changes in configurations and signalling, but ultimately it is incumbent on all members to recognise that Irish Rail needs significant investment in order to meet the demands set out in our climate action targets and also just the basic ambition members of the public have to be able to get out of their cars and travel to work or college in a more sustainable way. I will contribute later, but I wanted to make those remarks at the outset.