Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Kenny, but I suggest that it is up to the politicians, him, me and others, to try to find the middle ground. He spoke about the fact that people are afraid that if there is a greenway, there will be objections. It is my understanding from the last discussion with Iarnród Éireann that if there is a greenway, it is under licence and if at any time within a six-month period Iarnród Éireann wants that corridor back, then that is the agreement. The fact that the corridor is in place and that it has been preserved is a good thing because it stops any further incursions, such as those we have spoken about. It stops anybody building a shed or whatever and it keeps the corridor intact. Having it as a greenway is not in any way a negative in the context of it being a railway later on. I would like clarification on this matter because that is what Barry Kenny from Iarnród Éireann said when he came before the committee previously.

As politicians, if we do not support both options, that is a different matter, and then we make that clear. However, if we support both, we should be able to find a way that keeps the corridor intact and stops any further incursions or any objections. All of those will be dealt with when the greenway is being built, whether it is going through an SAC or an NHA. That will all be dealt with in the planning. If in five , ten or 15 years' time, a railway is going to be built, all of those planning permissions and issues will have been dealt with. There will be no new ones because the corridor will have been preserved. It is important to get the message out there that there is nothing negative about this. It is not everything we want today, but it is an important step along the way.