Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)

Is ceist fhíorthábhachtach í seo. Níl mé róshásta ach caithfear glacadh leis an Aire atá agamsa anseo anocht. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl as ucht an deis atá agamsa chun an cheist seo faoin A5 a phlé anseo sa Teach mar aon leis an chinneadh a rinne an Breitheamh McAlinden i gcúirt i mBéal Feirste ag tús na seachtaine agus an tionchar atá ag an chinneadh sin ar an togra A5, an bóthar idir Achadh na Cloiche agus an Srath Bán. Ceanglaíonn an bóthar 88 km sin an iarthuaisceart agus Contae Mhuineacháin ag dul ar aghaidh go dtí an M1 go dtí Baile Átha Cliath. Ceanglaíonn sé Doire, Dún na nGall, Tír Eoghain agus Muineacháin. Cuireann an cinneadh a rinneadh an cinneadh a rinne Stormont ar ceal.

I would prefer not to be here tonight raising this issue regarding the A5. The issue is the decision of Mr. Justice McAlinden in a Belfast court to quash a decision of the Northern Ireland Executive to proceed to construction with the A5. That is, proceeding to construction subject to the agreement of terms with contractors and the conclusion of the ongoing legal battle. Why was the approval overturned? From our understanding of it and the judgment, it was overturned because the A5 was not meeting a Stormont draft climate action plan that was published only last week. We are also told there was difficulty staying within Stormont's first carbon budget and the environmental impact of the new road was not properly assessed. It is not good enough that was not done. Challenges came from farmers in the area. There was also the question of the impact on homes and farms and a breach of the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This decision shows a glaring disconnect between the legal process and the urgent realities facing communities along this stretch of road and the general public. I came into this House about 44 years ago. I have been travelling this road all my life. Through the difficult days of the 1970s and 1980s, I always came down the A5. In those early days, we were of the view that the best stretch of the route was the A5. That was only because it had a smooth surface. The bends were the same. They are still the same today. With all the developments that have taken place on other parts of that route, though, it is now the worst stretch of road from the north west or, indeed, in the whole country.

The proposed cost of this road project is £1.2 billion or €1.6 billion. The Irish taxpayers have committed €600 million from the shared island initiative. The whole purpose of that is to fulfil the Good Friday Agreement. I appreciate there are regular meetings between the Executives North and South. I will have another opportunity, but I am calling on the Taoiseach, the Northern Ireland First Minister, the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, and the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure to meet shortly to decide on a way forward.

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