Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I agree with most of the Deputy's comments in respect of a number of those issues. She is correct on the issue of Macken Street bridge, although it might be about nine rather than ten years, because it was talked about when I was in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government even before some of the bridges that now span the Liffey were built.

We have discussed the other issue raised by the Deputy, namely, the Dublin transportation authority, and I do not disagree with her. There is a need for heads to be banged together and less rivalry on this issue. People in the various sectors must get it into their heads that Dublin and its population are expanding and that there is now a desire, which perhaps was never there previously, for people to use public transport if we have a proper system. Nobody is going to lose out or lose their jobs. If we put the entire system in place, we will have a very integrated transport system for the city that will be of benefit to the public.

My focus in this particular period of office will to be provide the best possible service for the customer. In most cases, that will be through public transport. I was not long in the brief, maybe a few days, when the issue of Broadstone appeared in one of the Sunday newspapers. It took me by surprise but I had not read into the brief fully.

Given the general knowledge I had about Transport 21 and everything else, this issue seemed to come out of the blue for everybody. I am not sure whether I would classify it as a row between the RPA and CIE because some people in CIE are a bit surprised by it as well. It has certainly taken most people by surprise. Based on my knowledge going back to my time at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Dublin Transportation Office and A Platform for Change, everybody knows that Broadstone was a central part of our plans. Given the existence of A Platform for Change, Transport 21 and the national development plan, for people to suddenly discover they will not be able to facilitate the Luas because they need certain things does not make sense. I will be seeking clarification on that issue over the coming weeks.

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