Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. There has been a huge amount of consultation on this project over the years. There were very contentious consultations before the project was scrapped and put on the long finger in 2011 but the current proposal regarding the land of Na Fianna is the most contentious I have seen. It does not make sense. When I met the NTA and other parties at the recent consultation, I immediately raised the concern that using these grounds was going to be a non-runner. Albert College was previously identified as a potential route, which raised very contentious issues. I have suggested that the virgin lands north of Ballymun could be utilised. There is no reason boring machines could not be used on those lands. The consultation process is in train and accepting submissions. I will be making a submission and it is important that it is taken on board. I hate when this is described as the optimal decision. It sends out the wrong message regarding this being the way we are going. We must hope that the NTA will be sensible in its approach to the consultation.

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