Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has confirmed Cabinet committee D on infrastructure did meet to discuss if not formally approve the Project Ireland 2040 national development plan, and perhaps the Taoiseach will indicate to us whether it did approve it. Were there specific evidential criteria applied to the individual projects that were proposed in the plan? I asked in advance of the plan that they would be published at the same time. To ensure that we know proper due diligence and proper evaluation for every project on the same basis was made, will the Taoiseach arrange to have it published?

On the specific investment on preparing Ireland for Brexit, I am very concerned that while Rosslare Europort is one of the most important ports in the country, the only reference in the development plan to it is to have a further review of the port and neither is there a commitment to complete the M11 motorway, from Oilgate to Rosslare Europort itself, when the current phase, which is the Enniscorthy bypass, is completed, hopefully by the end of this year. In the event of there being difficulties with a land bridge across the UK to the rest of Europe, this would be a vital national link. I ask the Taoiseach to give his views on this matter.

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