Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I thought it might have included an explanation as to why the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is not here to take this important Topical Issue. We have not heard any public comment from him, the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste since this project was delayed over a week ago. The least the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, could have done was to come to Chamber to address the issue. I did not table this question to hear the story of the A5 to date. I tabled it to hear what the Government intended do to ensure the project stays on track. Its response - to put it over to the Northern Irish authorities to drive the project forward - is not good enough. We need to see the Irish Government step up to the plate and take on the partnership approach, which was key in ensuring the project got off the ground in the first place. Leaving the project to the Northern Ireland authorities alone is not good enough. Key to its future is the partnership approach remaining between the Irish and British Governments and the Northern Ireland parties.

A serious situation has arisen because, as I outlined earlier, there are time conditions attached to the money the Northern Ireland Executive is spending on this project. In the past year £10 million a month was transferred to other projects because this project was being delayed. Unless we see the political will and effort to address the issue of this funding, which was coming primarily from Westminster, it will be further eroded.

Instead of a fob-off, which I believe I am getting from the Minister of State, I want to see real political resolve from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure we are partners in this project and that it goes ahead. If a dual carriageway from Dublin to Cork had its planning permission overturned last week and there were time conditions attached to its funding, we would not see the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, not coming into the Dáil today or the lack of comment in the past week from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister.

There is political support for this project in Northern Ireland. I want to make sure that overt political support is given by our leaders. I accept that the financial commitment from the Irish Government is as stated last week, but I want to see a partnership approach and political leadership given by the Minister for Transport and our other political leaders to ensure we play our part in getting this important and crucial project for the future of the north west delivered.

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