While a number of my colleagues will talk about a range of issues concerning the closure of specific rail freight and passenger lines, I wish to take an overview of the rail freight situation. This year it is expected that Iarnród Éireann will lose an estimated €24 million. Of that figure, rail freight accounts for a loss of €14 million. That is more than half the overall loss. Obviously, this cannot continue and is the reason the Minister is taking a broad look at the rail transport sector in general. Rail freight needs to be examined more closely and that is what the Department is doing in the strategic rail review being undertaken by the international rail consultants Booz-Allen and Hamilton. The strategic review was recommended in the review of Iarnród Éireann commissioned by the former Minister, Senator O'Rourke. As part of the review, the desirability of rail freight services, to include consideration of existing freight capacity and its potential for development, will be examined.