Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for giving me some time. I endorse the Minister of State's comments. I was glad to accompany him in County Monaghan to meet members of the A5 Enough is Enough committee, where they outlined in great detail the concerns of the local community throughout County Tyrone and of people who traverse that road going to the north west.

Whenever I drive that road, I am always struck by the huge volume of heavy goods vehicles. Far too often I have watched "BBC Newsline" and UTV Northern Ireland news reports and heard the terrible anguish of families who have lost siblings, sons, daughters, parents and other family members. I strongly compliment the great strength of character of those family members who have come forward to outline the pain and anguish they have gone through and still go through. We are all struck by those personal testimonies. It takes great people to be able to go public and outline what they have been through and what their families still go through.

A few years ago - I think it was in 2013 or 2014 - at the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, I arranged for representatives of Donegal County Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Mid-Ulster District Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Monaghan County Council to make a presentation to a meeting of the committee which was attended by officials from the Department of Transport and the then National Roads Authority. The one thing that struck me was that we often do not comprehend the huge population that is served by that artery. It is a main artery.

The first thing we have in mind is road safety. People should be safe when they travel these roads. However, there is also an economic aspect to it. If we are to realise the economic potential of the region, we must have proper connectivity. Unfortunately, those of us who live in south Ulster do not have a rail service. We are totally dependent on the road network. I am glad the Minister of State has been helpful in getting further investment for the N2, which is needed. It is an integral part of the N2-A5 road project that will open up the north west. Again, it will complement the A5 project and is essential for us to continue to build the all-Ireland economy we have seen develop so much since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.

I take this opportunity to again commend the people with us today. I have met quite a few of them in the past. It is a joy to listen to the arguments they put forward so cogently, passionately and with such conviction. We all share their concerns and want to see that road committed to. I am glad my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has again committed Government funding to this important project for all of our island.

See this speech in context