Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

However, other countries have powered ahead on the digital highway while we are struggling in Johnson's motor car. Recent Governments squandered opportunities and the current Government is so conservative that it is too cautious to breach the 3% target in the Stability and Growth Pact and too myopic to recognise that, by failing to resource technological development, we are denying ourselves the best opportunity to emerge from this recession well armed to compete internationally.

This is an opportunity to raise individual cases in our constituencies. It would not be appropriate to do so unless the reasons were extreme. A section of the N11, a major European route, is so dangerous that people have lost their lives on it and more will be lost unless investment is made. I urge the Taoiseach and the Government to ensure that the money is safeguarded to carry out lifesaving work on essential infrastructure.

See this speech in context