My grandfather was a railway surveyor, while my great great grandfather was a member of the arbitration committee which decided on compensation in relation to the land acquisition for the Waterford-Limerick railway, and I am the only person to have received a severe reprimand for overusing the Dublin-Belfast railway. I am also committed to public transport which I use. I welcome all the investment in the railways during the term of office of the last Government, especially the rail safety programme study, and do not want to see the new Government start by closing railway lines or running down the freight service. Existing Government policy is "to maintain the existing rail passenger network" from which we should not depart.