Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

It is typical of the two-faced look of Fine Gael every time it tries to put a policy forward.

While the progress to date is real, it reinforces rather than questions the need for further sustained action to be underpinned by a clear vision of our objectives. The importance of transport to the economy cannot be underestimated. The National Competitiveness Council has consistently highlighted the need for investment in transport infrastructure in its annual competitiveness reports.

Excellent progress has been made since Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats came into office in 1997. The road network has been and is being transformed, DART capacity has doubled, the Luas was built, there has been real rail improvements for the first time in decades and a renewed and expanded bus service is in place. These are real and tangible benefits, which we can too easily take for granted, and they have changed the transport experience for thousands of people.

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