Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputies that the NTA will consider the obvious social consequences of the project with equal enthusiasm. The words were carefully chosen in terms of it being referred to as the optimal technical route. I suspect those words were left out deliberately because they would give the impression that it is optimal in the technical sense, which is a very crude way of judging a project such as this. I will convey the Deputies' wishes that the social consequences of the project be taken into account to the NTA. They should also do so themselves. I will not interfere in the process. There is a tendency to ask me to draw every route of every road and railway line. I will not do that but I am conscious that the sensitivities of communities must be balanced against the need to go ahead with this very necessary project. I assure the Deputies that what they have said will be taken on board, that there is a serious consultation process under way and that the NTA will work collaboratively with Na Fianna.

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