Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

I compliment the Minister on coming to the House so quickly after his visit here last week. I particularly compliment him on his speech, to some aspects of which I wish to refer. On the greater Dublin area, he said Iarnród Éireann should be aiming at a "turn up and go" attitude. I would be pleased to see that happen as that is what is needed. When one considers the awesome figures about to be spent on rail, according to the report, one will have to ensure that not only will we pour money into the system but also that it will be reformed.

Senator O'Meara gave anecdotal evidence of her experience of using Irish Rail. The practice which has developed on the Great Northern Line since 1962 whereby train drivers leave a train at Connolly Station and drive another back leaving another driver to take the train to Pearse Street Station or on to Arklow will have to stop. We have been fed a diet by Irish Rail for the past ten years that there is a capacity constraint at Connolly Station. This issue is not addressed fully but skirted around in the report. I want existing capacity utilised before we start pouring millions of euro – it is questionable whether we have the necessary resources – into the system.