Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am very much in favour of this project, especially of the section bypassing Tipperary town, which will advance faster than any other element of the project. We want the through-traffic out of Tipperary town straightaway. I recall meeting representatives of the local chamber of commerce. Some 30% of local shop fronts are not in operation, in the main, because there are so many trucks going through the centre of the town. I therefore want to see this built.

This is good news. As I said, it will come to the Government for a decision this year. It has to go through the process. The public spending codes apply to all projects and all Departments. Under our public spending code, a project has to go through various decision gates, but the most significant one is when the business case is presented to the Government, as it will be in this case this year. Then we can seek planning permission and go to construction subject to it passing through all the other gates. It will be a significant milestone when it goes to the Government, which will happen this year. That should be good news, especially for the residents of Tipperary town.

See this speech in context