Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

The Minister has a far-reaching portfolio. Today's debate is focused on the rail freight sector. The Minister has engaged consultants to carry out a strategic review and their report will be available in late January. It would be unwise, therefore, for Iarnród Éireann to proceed in any direction until that report is completed. The long awaited national spatial strategy could also have an significant impact on the decisions that must be made.

Rail freight has been losing money. We must analyse why this is so. To what degree has Iarnród Éireann been commercially focused in expanding the rail freight division? I can give a relevant example, which I discussed on a previous occasion with the then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Woods – it was when Lisheen mines were opening. At the time the developers of the mines made a decision to use the road rather than a rail link. The decision was influenced by a commercial factor. The mine would have required a spur rail line of about eight miles to bring the product to Thurles. Then it could have been shipped out. Foynes port in Limerick was chasing that commercial business and, indeed, would have been an ideal location if it had happened. For commercial reasons, however, it did not happen.