Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I have responsibility to report to the European Commission in regard to the safety of this and other tunnels. I have not taken over any safety functions in regard to the tunnel itself other than to make that report. The most recent of these reports was submitted to the EU on 25 or 26 September.

The issues to which the Deputy refers were the subject of publicity in the recent past. They are a matter for the NRA and the companies concerned. The Deputy is correct that the Scada system had to be repaired and replaced. Most of the work identified as necessary in the EGIS report has been completed and the safety system is working well. I am assured by the NRA that it will at no time allow the safety of tunnel users to be compromised in any way. That is its paramount concern. Whenever a safety issue arises, the first recourse is to ensure there is nobody in the tunnel and that it is blocked off. Deputy O'Dowd and I have made that discovery from time to time.

In regard to the specifics of what is happening with the Scada system, I understand it is a contractual matter. I am not aware of any request for additional public expenditure on that basis.

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