Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I hope it will be too long before a meeting is convened between the Tánaiste, First Minister and respective Ministers. There is only one positive I can take from the judgment, which is that "The shortcomings and shortcuts in the decision making highlighted in this judgment are capable of being remedied". I hope that can be done but this never should have happened and there should have been much more attention to detail.

We can be critical of what has happened there but we must also begin the consideration - the Minister of State referred to this - south of the Border. The €2 million or €3 million provided by the TII over the past year or so is not sufficient. There are major works to be carried out between Ardee and the Border and that should be going on concurrently with the works to be carried out in Northern Ireland. It will take some time and the more quickly this is kick-started, the better.

The Minister of State may not be aware of the answer but was this matter discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council last week? Of all the projects that had to be discussed, I presume this one would have been. Irrespective of what the view of either side would have been, there cannot be interference with the court. An urgent meeting is absolutely necessary and I repeat my call for that. In thinking of the general public, I must state that 55 deaths in 18 years is too many. We cannot and should not compare that with climate action plans. Along with the 55 deaths, hundreds of people have been maimed and their whole life experiences have changed.

See this speech in context