Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The Rail Accident Investigation Unit did a very good job in its report in exposing a litany of examples of gross incompetence, mismanagement and negligence by Iarnród Éireann, or Irish Rail, that very nearly resulted in a tragedy that would not have been forgotten for many years.

Is the Minister satisfied that the Railway Safety Commission, RSC, is adequately resourced? I am not, having met its representatives at a committee meeting last week. Is he satisfied that the RSC has sufficient teeth so as that it need not rely on the word of Iarnród Éireann alone - with the benefit of hindsight, doing so has not been advisable - and can undertake the kinds of investigation necessary to test regularly the quality of safety assurance on our rail network? Is his Department in discussions with the RSC to ensure we have a more robust regulatory mechanism, one that is independent of Iarnród Éireann and can undertake random and regular testing of the rail infrastructure, be it rolling or fixed, and allow the public to have more confidence in the rail network?

See this speech in context