Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The most important thing the Government could do would be to introduce the Dublin transport authority Bill. Because we do not have that legislation there are turf wars between Iarnród Éireann and the Railway Procurement Agency, while commuters suffer. The Minister is right in saying that people are buying cars due to modern economic wealth but public transport has not kept pace with demand. The key issue is that we do not have effective public transport initiatives or adequate park-and-ride facilities, while the Luas and metro projects are hit by delays. Most of all, no one is in charge. The Minister has refused to accept responsibility for Dublin's traffic chaos. One of my questions was refused today because the Minister said it was a matter for somebody else. It is a matter for the Minister, however, but he is not dealing with it. That is why our transport emissions are so high and why people are queuing up in cars. The Minister has no regard for the 100,000 motorists who are stuck on the M50, that wonderful parking lot, every day. He refused to intervene to get a proper plan to deal with public transport, getting cars off the road and reducing emissions.

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