Johnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Deputy Blaney.

I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I have only one reservation and the Minister knows what it is because I spoke to him about it, that is, that unfortunately he cannot include the M3 in this legislation. Anyone who travels through County Meath, and on into counties Cavan, Leitrim, Donegal, Fermanagh and parts of counties Tyrone or Armagh, who must travel through towns such as Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells, will be aware of the amount of time spent sitting in the car in queues of three and four miles. One could encounter a queue of three miles at Dunshaughlin, a queue of two miles at Navan and a queue of two to three miles, and sometimes four miles, approaching Kells. That is not fair, either on business people or commuters. It is not warranted and it is not acceptable.

Last week the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, visited my town of Kells. I travelled with him and we could not go through either of the towns on the way. We had to take the county roads to get to Kells on time, which is what people are doing day in, day out. Unfortunately, all of the county roads on both sides of the M3 are in a deplorable state but this is not due to a lack of funding because I am aware the former Ministers, Deputy Noel Dempsey and Deputy Cullen, and the current Minister, Deputy Roche, have given Meath County Council significant funding. When large articulated trucks and an enormous amount of cars use all of these roads which were never build for such traffic, naturally they will deteriorate.

Last week the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, visited the enterprise board and the business park in Kells and was most impressed by what he saw. However, in his speech to the enterprise board he spoke of the importance of good infrastructure into any county or town, and that when industrialists come to locate in any town they look at the infrastructure and if it is good, naturally they will decide to locate there. That is why it is so important that roads such as the M3 are built.

Even at this late juncture, I appeal to those people, most of whom are not from the locality or even from this country, who are delaying these projects by appealing them from one stage to the next. As it went through the planning process, the hearings on the M3 were the longest in the history of the State. Following this, the case went to the High Court and is now being appealed to the Supreme Court. When it is lost there, those to whom I refer have bragged that they will take it to the European Court of Justice. At the same time, the town of Kells, where my office is located and where I can be found every day of the week that I am not present in the Oireachtas, is being choked with traffic.

As the Minister is aware, the situation in the area is unique in that the N3 and the very busy N52 pass through the town. Much of the traffic that comes from the north, south and west across Kells is comprised of heavy articulated trucks. We have received the go-ahead for the M3 and the bypassing of Kells, which will take traffic from the N52 away from the town.

The Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, is present. He recently visited Kells with me and saw how bad the situation has become. We met a few groups in Kilskyre where I grew up. Deputy Penrose would know the area well.

See this speech in context