Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

The strategic rail review 2003 needs to be thrown out because it is outdated and completely out of tune with what is happening. This afternoon, the Government is going to load extra costs on private bus companies in County Donegal who are providing public services, and also on car travellers who do not have access to rail transport, as is the case in many urban areas. One has to marry what is happening now with what will happen in the future. One thing about Fianna Fáil-led Governments is that they only look to the long term in the context of the next election. We need long-term thinking and connectivity. Let us consider the possibility of getting on a train in County Kerry, going up through the western rail corridor, which the Minister has funded, and going to the fourth largest city in Ireland, Derry city, and on to Belfast. An all-island rail link is long-term thinking and given that extra costs are coming down in that regard, it has potential for tourism generation.

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