Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The system we have in place is not good enough. I accept everything the Minister of State has said about co-ordination the roles of the different groups and Departments involved, but we would never have had motorways if responsibility for building them had been left with the local authorities. The National Roads Authority was given that power and authority. It can sign contracts, issue tenders and do what is necessary to build motorways. The Minister of State should be brave, look forward for the next 50 years or the next two or three generations. A co-ordinating committee is not the answer in terms of what is needed in the decades ahead. We need an organisation with statutory authority. Some of those with authority will have to cede it in the national interest and for the greater good. I know that there would be turf wars all over the place, but we have to think big and look forward.

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