Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. It is a miracle nobody was killed. If the 300 people on the train had all ended up in the estuary, it would have been an absolute tragedy.

The report of the Railway Accident Investigation Unit made 15 recommendations, 14 of them directed at Iarnród Éireann and one - or perhaps one and a half due to an overlap - directed at the Railway Safety Commission. The recommendations demonstrated the most gross negligence on the part of Iarnród Éireann in terms of its maintenance, standards and practices. As recently as three days before the near tragedy, it had carried out an examination of the bridge and could not detect the scouring that had taken place and which was to bring about the failure.

Eight of the findings have been implemented. Why have the other seven not been implemented? Since the findings were of gross negligence in regard to both Iarnród Éireann and the Railway Safety Commission itself, which had a duty of enforcement and supervision which it did not fulfil but simply took the word of Iarnród Éireann, is the Minister considering taking this on board himself? It is not just a matter for the Railway Safety Commission to consider whether there will be prosecutions because there may well be prosecutions in regard to the Railway Safety Commission itself, as well as in regard to Iarnród Éireann. Will the Minister consider the matter in that context?

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