Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, indeed, it is good news. I hope the Minister will still be in the Cabinet when it comes to the Government later in the year. I take him at his word that he is interested in having a bypass of Tipperary town. The life is choked out of it with the trucks and other traffic that should not be going through the town. People will be able to breathe, work and live again in peace if it is bypassed. I implore the Minister to ensure he holds on to his portfolio and lives up to his word because he has given many commitments about the bypass of Tipperary town and the relief road. We will hold him to them. We appreciate his efforts.

I hope the business case will be an exceptional one and get through all the gates because for too long the gates have been closed. By gates, I mean a permanent blockade of trucks, bumper to bumper tailing through the town and stopping all life. Surveys have been done on the pollution, noise and everything else and it is not fair to the residents or business people of Tipperary town or the people who want to come and visit the town and its hinterland. I hope the Minister will be in Cabinet to ensure this is shunted along the road in memory of his ancestors, who were all from Tipperary.

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