Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Is the Minister saying the Dublin City Manager, Mr. John Tierney, will be responsible for this mega-project, the largest construction project in Dublin city centre since the rebuilding after the 1916 Rising? Has the Minister completed a detailed risk assessment of the big dig? Has he received a cost benefit analysis on its impact on city centre business?

Last week the distinguished journalist, Mr. Frank McDonald pointed out the proposed central metro station will destroy St. Stephen's Green. Even after the four years of construction and 8,000 truckloads of soil are removed, a quarter of the green will be covered with escape shafts for the station. What will be the impact of the proposed metro stations at the O'Connell monument and at the Parnell monument on O'Connell Street? Will it be a case of tens of thousands of trucks moving soil up and down O'Connell Street and the quays? Many of those who are interested in being involved in this construction project have taken it for granted that the monuments — Dan O'Connell and his angels and Parnell, our lost leader — will have to be moved for several years. I would not mind if the Spire goes and we do not see it again. O'Connell Street and all its adjoining streets will be a major construction site for five years.

This is a monumental task and the largest one ever overseen by the Minister for Transport. When Minister for the Environment and Local Government he oversaw the Limerick city drainage project which lost the State €90 million. This only concerns the metro. When the interconnector is constructed there will be additional construction work at Christchurch and Pearse Station.

I welcome the Minister's reappointment yesterday.

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