Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I knew that would prompt Deputy Burton to seek to shout me down. There are about 17 machines on the road and another 20 or 30 are due to come on to it. As soon as that road is completed, we will move on to the N3. The chambers of commerce in the Meath constituency made it clear in committees — I hope members of the press were in a position to attend — who they regard as the strongest proponents of the necessity for the N3 to go ahead. They were thankful of the consistent position of the Fianna Fáil Deputies in their constituencies as distinct from manoeuvres being made by others who have now finally recognised that over 80% of the constituents of Meath want to see that road go ahead as quickly as possible.

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