Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, to the House. I am pleased the House has the opportunity to discuss the strategic rail review. I compliment the Minister and the former Minister, Senator Mary O'Rourke, on their investment in the rail infrastructure.

I am a member of the western inter-county railway committee which was formed some years ago. The honorary secretary is Father Micheál Mac Greil and it is chaired by a former Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas, Martin J. O'Toole. We have been campaigning for a long time to have the Sligo-Limerick line upgraded. We saw that as a Euro-route which could continue to Rosslare. We also campaigned for the inclusion of Donegal and the north-west. This report refers to the route as the Sligo-Cork line but whichever way one looks at it, it is a western corridor which must be supported.

I am pleased that the Minister, Deputy Brennan, seems to be more appreciative of the socio-economic value of the line than was the strategic rail review. The public reaction has been very favourable to the Minister's comments.