James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

These are the flagship projects and initiatives. The capital plan is to be announced. The interconnector is at risk. I refer to the circle line, which is the missing link in all the rail connections.

Deputy Cassells spoke about photo opportunities in Meath recently. There was a very famous photo opportunity in north Dublin when the Minister, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, and the Taoiseach stood smiling side by side as they welcomed the new shiny toy that is the cross-city Luas. When we open our newspapers, we see the disarray that is being caused on College Green every day. Chaos has ensued due to the lack of planning provision and joined-up thinking. We now hear talk of banning buses, the workhorses of the public transport fleet, from the central plaza. Bicycles will be next to go and then pedestrians and soon we will have nothing left except a shiny Luas going up and down. Is that the best the Minister can offer? It is not too late for him to change his script. I hope he gets real about the problems and gets real about the investment that is required in rural and urban areas and that he does so very soon.

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