Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy can heckle me at the end of my contribution but he should let me get through it. I listened to the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Olivia Mitchell, who made an excellent and positive contribution. She would know a great deal about this business given that she represents Dublin South. The M50 cuts through Dublin South-West, which I represent. Deputy Olivia Mitchell would know a little more than I about the geography of the area that is the subject of the Bill, on which I compliment her.

In researching my contributions, which I try to keep short, I often read background material from which I discover facts and information that has expanded my interest and knowledge in the subject matter of the Bill being discussed. That is a good learning experience for me and I am happy to do that.

Regarding this Bill, I appreciate from my research the level of public capital, professional time and vested interest involved in what we all think is a simple matter. We need a road, we select its route, we start to build it and if part of our history appears under the excavators, all hell breaks out. We hear from lobbyists, lawyers, media briefings and competing experts seeking their day in the sun on our national television stations and in the media, and in this international age of the web, international protests are made by informed or ill-informed but well-meaning supporters of Ireland in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere. Only this morning I received another round of e-mails which I am going through. For the record, I always read my e-mails and reply to them, unless there is a good reason for me not to do so.

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