Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was agreed more recently than the St. Andrews Agreement in the context of the Fresh Start agreement and the shared island initiative. The issue is not financing, as the Deputy is well aware. A public inquiry is under way in Northern Ireland. There have been significant challenges in progressing route selection for the project in the North because of opposition from a variety of interests. I have been exasperated by this, as we have made clear through the shared island initiative. The Government has put €1 billion aside for a range of cross-Border projects, including the A5, over the next decade. We want it to come on stream. In the meantime we funded Narrow Water Bridge and the Ulster Canal. This is vital for connectivity of the north west.

I also wish Katie Taylor, who Deputy Doherty referred to, the best. I met her on my way back from Boston. At the time she was quite excited about the forthcoming boxing fight.

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