Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

This tunnel was designed and built to last 100 years. However, it has been open for 15 months and there have been significant failures of the Scada system. Is that acceptable? Does the Minister believe the software was properly tested and was the best available internationally? Is it fit for its purpose?

I met the NRA yesterday, was in the tunnel complex and spoke to people there and to the consultants. They are deeply unhappy with the response from the contractor which installed the equipment and which is not fit for purpose. They cannot stand over it and they do not know when there will be another glitch. The contractor is refusing to do any further work on the equipment and that is why the NRA is now proceeding to the legal phase.

The difficulty is that each time the tunnel closes, people lose confidence in it. What will the Minister do to restore confidence in the operation of the tunnel and the equipment therein, particularly the Scada safety system?

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