Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)

We heard recently that the population of the island of Ireland has gone above 7 million for the first time. It is really a great time to be looking at an all-island rail strategy. What is not to like about this strategy? I commend the Minister of State but I also want to commend Eamon Ryan who initiated this strategy a few years ago. It is great that it was done. Rail is a great way to distribute economic growth and bring economic development to different regions. What is not to like about that? Rail is a great way to do transport-led planning, so we can plan residential areas and build-ups around rail and public transport, not around the private car. Rail is a key part of this island's plan to do decarbonisation. We can get away from the car and from diesel engines. We can look at electric and battery-operated locomotives, which is already planned between here and Drogheda. Rail has a huge part to play in that.

There are fairly significant costs associated with this and an investment of €32 billion is the price tag being put on the table. In the long term, from a decarbonisation perspective alone, it is a price worth paying if we can get the economic development done. The Minister of State is very familiar with rail issues in his own region. It is so important all around the country. I am fully supportive of this and really look forward to Government supporting it and running with it in the context of the NDP and all the projects to come.

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