Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply. For years, the Government has promised to introduce a strategic national infrastructure Bill and each new list of proposed legislation published at the beginning of every session includes provision for such legislation. The Bill has been delayed because of the Government's inability to resolve its internal crisis on the question of what constitutes significant infrastructure. Different Ministers place different weight on different issues, particularly in the area of incineration. Will the Minister ensure that only major infrastructural projects are covered by the changes he proposes to make to An Bord Pleanála? He once stated that any matter which requires an environmental impact statement would go before special hearings of the board, a proposal which my party believes would clog up the system.

Having gone through due process, certain individuals indicated on television last week that they wish to commence legal proceedings with regard to the route of the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara, as is their democratic right. Will the Bill provide for the establishment of a special division of the High Court to immediately deal with applications arising on foot of decisions taken on major infrastructural projects? Such a division will be critical if we are to avoid lengthy delays. We cannot allow a dispute over the M3 motorway to last one, two or three years. We have had due process and want the motorway now.

See this speech in context