Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Is the Minister denying reports that the final cost might be in the order of €1.25 billion? Can he provide us with any update? I understand that the NRA and Dublin City Council are in a legal action against Nishimatsu Mowlem Irishenco. What is the current state of play on that matter? What consequences could the outcome of that legal action have for the NRA, Dublin City Council and, above all, the Exchequer?

I wish to support my colleague, Deputy O'Dowd, concerning safety matters. It is time the Minister either published the report or got his Department to undertake a swift, independent report on safety issues, given the grave public concerns. Following the "Prime Time" programme, for example, people said they would not travel through the tunnel as they did not feel it was safe. The NRA's chief executive, Mr. Fred Barry, has reassured me that all the news on "Prime Time" was old news, but is it old news? Can we be absolutely certain that the tunnel is safe?

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