Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join the Deputy in extending my condolences and those of the Government to the Turkish people and the families involved. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme.  The Dublin Port tunnel is the responsibility of the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007. Safety is, of course, of paramount importance in the management and operation of the tunnel.  I understand from the NRA that the tunnel is fully compliant with European Directive 2004/54/EC on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network.  

Among the obligations set down in the directive is the organisation of safety exercises which are to be carried out at regular intervals.  In the Dublin Port tunnel, safety drills are undertaken by the tunnel operator at three-monthly intervals to test the efficiency of the technical systems, the reactions of staff who control and manage equipment, and the co-ordination of intervention by the Dublin fire brigade, An Garda Síochána and the ambulance service. I am happy to arrange a site visit for the Deputy to the tunnel control centre and a detailed briefing from the NRA on the fire and safety plans that are in place.

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