Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Therefore, the answer on the North-South route is "No", obviously. Given the planning application is going in within a matter of weeks and this study will not be commenced and will certainly not be concluded within a matter of weeks, despite all that has been said, the answer is "No, it will not be included".

There is a second question. Who is going to prepare and publish the terms of reference for the expert committee? Will there be an opportunity for the public to consider those terms of reference? Will there perhaps be an opportunity for the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to consider the draft terms of reference before they are finalised? If we have comprehensive and good terms of reference, we have a chance of getting a good outcome from it. However, incomplete terms of reference would render any subsequent report valueless or of limited value.

Could the Minister explain how the terms of reference will be prepared, who is going to do it and whether or not the draft terms of reference can be considered by the Oireachtas or the public?

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