James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Very good. I can talk a little more slowly therefore and maybe the Minister will not only understand me, but also take on board what I say. The Indecon report, which was presented recently to Fingal County Council, stated that the metro north project had the ability to deliver 67,000 jobs to north Dublin. In answering questions earlier, the Minister said that the project remains on line for 2013. Is that correct? He is nodding his head, so I will take that as a "Yes". This is a key to delivering a hospital, possibly, and a third level institution to Swords, County Dublin. The county manager is actively pursuing such commendable objectives. The planners drawing up plans for a new city with infrastructure and transport amenities in the Swords area need clarity at this time of economic duress. Now that the draft plan is on display, I hope timelines and so forth will be published soon. Given Dublin Airport's expansion — a new terminal is under construction and a new runway is planned — metro north is badly needed. Without it, developments at the airport will fall foul of a lack of infrastructure. I hope the metro line proceeds on time.

I ask the Minister to reconsider the Bill, on which the House had a heated debate on the previous occasion. While the legislation offers opportunities, it is vital that the new authority is answerable to the House. We do not need another Health Service Executive, which is what the Dublin transport authority will be if the Bill is enacted as proposed. The proposed authority will not be answerable to the House or anyone other than the Minister. How will Deputies obtain information on behalf of constituents and citizens on issues on which the authority is not delivering?

Deputies have spoken about the need for transparency and accountability, with which, I am sure, the Minister agrees. However, he must also agree that if the Bill is passed without amendment, the new body will be neither transparent nor accountable and the disconnection between those who make decisions and those who have to suffer their consequences will increase.

If nothing else, the result of the referendum on the Lisbon treaty showed that people are angry for a host of reasons. While disinformation and other factors played a role in the outcome, the underlying and important message was that people feel disempowered and believe politicians are not listening to them and power is shifting to the centre. The current approach does not work and undermines people's faith in democracy. I ask the Minister to reconsider the arrangements provided for in the Bill to ensure the authority is subject to proper levels of responsibility, accountability and transparency. Its staff must have a clear definition of what is their responsibility, to whom they are answerable and the reason decisions are made. Moreover, the House must have an input especially as recent changes in the health system made the House irrelevant in that area. If the Minister refuses to reconsider, I will oppose the Bill.

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