Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Given that it would cost about one tenth of the cost of the buy-back to build a new bridge, does the Government have any plans or intention to investigate the original 1987 contract which so disadvantaged the State and which has left us with a situation that we cannot even build a bridge? The State cannot even build a new bridge adjacent to the existing bridge because of the contract entered into by Pádraig Flynn, George Redmond and Tom Roche. While two of them are still with us, is it not in the public interest that this contract should be examined? How is it possible to make such a negligent deal on behalf of the taxpayer? We handed everything over to a private operator and the Taoiseach is now telling us he is to make an announcement that he is buying back the bridge. Motorists may think they will get some relief but they will not. There will be no relief until mid-2008 and an alternative toll will then be implemented.

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