Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

We have the N73 and N72, taking in Mallow to Fermoy and Mallow to Rosslare, as well as Mitchelstown to Mallow and on to Rathmore, which is the constituency of the Ceann Comhairle. These require upgrading and I appeal to the Minister for Transport, through the Department of Finance, for extra funding for those two routes. They carry significant volumes of traffic, especially during the summer months because of the tourist business from Rosslare to Killarney. They are vital to the area's infrastructure. I do not know the exact cost of the funding but not much would be needed to allow the upgrade. I appeal for them to be looked after. The entire problem has been brought about by globalisation in the world economy. We were mad on it and globalisation was everything. Everyone learned the globe when attending school and everyone knows where are the other parts of the world.

See this speech in context