Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I totally reject any suggestion that it was in the interests of anyone to leak the report. It was highly inconvenient that the report was leaked. I have not sat on it for months. Deputy Troy should be more accurate about the matter. The reality is that I had intended to bring it to Cabinet this week. The Cabinet meeting was curtailed and a one-hour discussion was arranged because of the Brexit meetings at Dublin Castle today. That would not have given enough time for a report of this kind to be seriously considered by the Cabinet. To suggest that such a report could be seriously considered in an hour is absurd. I delayed the discussion until next week for that reason.

The Deputy should be well aware of the programme because I have made it absolutely clear. The report will be released immediately once the Cabinet has seen and considered it. It will then go to a public consultation and will be considered by the National Transport Authority afterwards. Recommendations will then be made.

Deputy Troy referred to the issue of rail lines being closed. I think it would be altogether wrong to prejudge any of the conclusions of this report or any conclusions of the NTA and I am not going to do so.

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