Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus comhghairdeachas a dhéanamh leis. Go n-éirí leis ina phost nua. I congratulate you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, on your elevation and wish you every success in the post. I assure you of my co-operation.

I wish to share time with Deputy Christy O'Sullivan. I welcome the Roads Bill. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, and all his predecessors on the huge progress we have made in the delivery of roads across the country in the past ten years. The roll-out of these new roads continues apace and the Minister referred to the fantastic Transport 21 programme to be completed over the next ten years. This has significantly cut journey times for motorists and has improved safety. In my constituency of Dublin North the delivery of the M1 and N2 — hopefully we will see the M3 after the Bill is passed — has transformed travel times and greatly boosted the economy in the constituency and outside it.

It is appropriate to mention that yesterday the 1 millionth truck travelled through the Dublin Port tunnel. I travelled through the tunnel yesterday and today. The time saved in getting into the city is fantastic. Much more needs to be done on our delivery of roads. The upgrading of dual carriageways to motorway standard as proposed in the Bill is long overdue. I have had many complaints from constituents over the years asking why they are restricted to travelling at 80 km/h on what people recognise as a motorway quality road when 100 km/h or 120 km/h would be more appropriate. This aspect of the Bill will be greatly welcomed. While none of us would advocate speeding, motorways are built to accommodate speeds of up to 120 km/h. Upgrading certain dual carriageways will be welcome across the country and will cut journey times for ordinary commuters and business people.

I very much welcome the provision of the service areas. In my former position as councillor, along with other public representatives I attempted to make provision for service areas on motorways. At the time the NRA wrote to the county manager blocking the proposal. I am glad these service areas will soon be available. We have all had the experience of travelling around the country and being unable to stop for a meal, refuel, use toilets etc. Young families in particular will welcome this change. Heavy goods vehicle operators will certainly welcome it. Drivers often need to pull into small towns and villages to take meals, refuel etc. The clogging of small village roads with HGVs has caused considerable problems for local residents. This is a very positive step.

I wish the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, every success in his post. I have no doubt he will be an outstanding Minister. He has shown great courage in all his other portfolios and I have full confidence that he will deliver Transport 21 in a time-efficient manner.

Discussions should take place with the Road Haulage Association and other organisations to agree the location of these service areas, as they are the experts. When undertaking a journey to Galway, Cork, Sligo or wherever their drivers know where it is appropriate to stop. With the advent of tachographs they would be more than familiar with the exact locations.

Everybody will welcome the provision of barrier-free tolling on the M50. Nobody using the M50 is happy with the delays at the toll plaza. As one who uses Eazy Pass, I recognise that the system works particularly well. I do not believe the difficulties Deputy Shortall envisages would arise on a practical level. The system works extremely well and the vast majority of people would be more than happy to pay by direct debit rather than needing to stop and throw in a cup of coins. Upgrading the M50 to six lanes is more than welcome and coupled with barrier-free tolling will make driving along the M50 more convenient. Following the opening of the port tunnel, business people in particular will find that journey times and costs will be greatly improved.

Like other Deputies, I will be parochial. As the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, comes from Meath he will be aware of the need for an outer ring road north of Balbriggan, perhaps between Balbriggan and Drogheda as outlined in the Government proposals. I recommend that the planning for this project should proceed apace. We need to keep as much traffic as possible out of the Dublin region. There is no reason traffic coming from the north and going to the south or west should need to use the existing junction with the M1 to access the M50.

Given the proposed new port at Bremore, a new link road from the M1 to that port will be essential. As the Minister will know, Balbriggan is a now major residential area and a separate link road is necessary. The concept of HGVs passing through local residential areas is not appropriate. We need to plan to have six lanes on the M1 now, with the advent of the North-South corridor and the increased North-South business, and given the development of our economy. This will be particularly appropriate if Bremore port comes about as proposed. I understand that even Guinness is considering moving from the city out to Balbriggan. All those proposals suggest we should have six lanes on the M1.

Good access to any motorway is essential. The NRA should co-operate with Fingal County Council in planning new access in the Lusk-Blake's Cross area to facilitate motorists from Skerries, Rush and Lusk to access the motorway rather than needing to travel to the existing Lissenhall interchange which already has considerable congestion with motorists from Donabate and Portrane joining the motorway. A slip road from Donabate and Portrane to the M1 is also needed.

The public demands that the M50 be freed up as quickly as possible. It is incumbent on everybody in this House to allow a speedy passage of the Bill so we can get barrier-free tolling on the M50.

I refer to the parking regulations outside sport stadia. I am a regular visitor to Croke Park. I will be there next Sunday and I wish Wexford the best of luck. The Minister is also a regular spectator and I often see him there. I hope I will have the opportunity to go to Croke Park a few times this year, particularly on the third Sunday in September. However, indiscriminate parking is an issue around the stadium. Spectators need parking so that they can attend and enjoy a match but a number of them block gateways and so on. This involves supporters not only of Dublin but also Meath, Wexford and other counties playing in Croke Park. This issue needs to be addressed but the Bill should be passed forthwith.

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