Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

Although barrier-free tolling is the central tenet of this proposed legislation, Sinn Féin believes the debate should centre around the very concept of tolls. In respect of the M50, through tolls alone, motorists have already paid for the cost of this motorway many times over. It is a sizeable chunk ending up in the hands of the private National Toll Roads. Although public private partnerships have failed and proved costly for road construction, the Government continues to embrace this form of privatisation. Sinn Féin believes public moneys should be utilised for building roads and is fundamentally opposed to tolls, with or without barriers. This piecemeal and long-awaited commitment to the removal of toll barriers has been well overdue. However, it is only the toll barriers that will be removed and not the tolls. Road tolling is another stealth tax, one which motorists are compelled to pay for the pleasure in entering Europe's largest car park, the M50. Motorists already pay road tax, which is supposed to cover the cost of building and maintaining roads. Tolls are simply another form of double taxation and are essentially a tax on workers travelling to and from work. Tolls have proved to be a lucrative money-spinner for private toll operators who make millions of euro annually. The then Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, consistent in his record for wasting taxpayers' money, gave the green light for the buy-out of the tolls at the substantial cost of €730 million, when the cost of introducing barrier-free tolling is included.

A positive element to the Bill is the provision for rest and service areas on the national road network. The Bill states a road authority or other relevant authority may make provision for a service area scheme. Will it be mandatory for all motorways to be provided with proper rest and service areas or is it at the discretion of the relevant authority? Sinn Féin raised the concerns of road hauliers on this matter with the former Minister for Transport Deputy Cullen, only to be met with a sense of inaction. The number of service stations and washing facilities for hauliers and motorists are inadequate. There is a lack of safe areas for hauliers to park. With the EU directive on drivers' hours being enforced by the Garda traffic corps, it is impossible for hauliers to find safe and secure places to park to take required breaks and sleep overnight if needs be. The current predicament is that road hauliers are forced to use the hard shoulder for breaks which is illegal and dangerous. It is a catch-22. If truck drivers stop for a break, they break the law by parking on the hard shoulder; if they do not stop to take their breaks, they also break the law. With the carnage on the roads, we need progressive measures to ensure there are no tired truck drivers on our roads.

The Bill contains powers for the Minister to designate a high quality dual carriageway as a motorway. What about assigning powers to stop a motorway being constructed? Protected roads are referred to in the legislation. What about protecting our heritage? I refer to Fianna Fáil-led plans of cultural vandalism in constructing a 70-mile motorway close to the Tara Valley which contains a high concentration of ceremonial monuments. It is no wonder that Tara has been announced as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world.

I welcome parts of the Bill, particularly those for service and rest facilities on motorways which will benefit hauliers. Safe areas must be made available where they can park. I always note when travelling on the N7 the number of trucks parked on the hard shoulder which is dangerous for other motorists.

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