Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

There will be soft drinks for the late arrivals.

I cannot understand the shrieks of indignation from Government backbenchers that the Opposition should have the neck to raise questions about the validity of some of the proposals in Transport 21. Opposition Members are entitled to raise these concerns and we are correct to do so. This is the Government that gave us the tunnel that could not keep water out, the swimming pool that could not keep water in and the roof that could not stay on the building. It is the same Administration that oversaw an entire range of developments that did not stand up to challenge. The €34 billion or €38 billion that is about to be spent on transport is a critical infrastructural undertaking. We are, without exception or reservation, entitled to discuss, contest and challenge what is proposed. The suggestion from the universal scriptwriter on the other side of the House, however, is that the Opposition should remain silent.

The underlying problem is that the Government is suffering from post-election trauma. It is a serious condition.

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