Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

There is no foundation to the suggestion that were one of these projects to go, the other one could not go ahead. I wish to knock that idea straight away, given that an advanced state of tendering has been reached for metro north. Either project can proceed separately and while some works could be common to both, they can be accommodated and that is the intention. However, that does not mean that if one project could not proceed for some reason or other, the second project automatically would be postponed. I wish to make clear that point. Furthermore, I do not believe in big dramatic gestures like this. I am sure that by the time I return to my office, I will have a full explanation from whoever made the statement and from CIE regarding the DART interconnector and I will communicate thereon with the Deputies.

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