Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

Transport appears to be the theme today, having been raised by Senators Ulick Burke and Norris. Senator Norris rightly referred to the slow progress of the Luas project and the wholesale disruption caused by it and raised questions on the metro. The contract for the operation of Luas has been awarded to a firm known as Connex. Commuters will have been dismayed to learn over the weekend that Connex, which has also been running part of the British rail system, has had its contract axed by the Strategic Rail Authority. How the Minister for Transport can continue to exude confidence in a company which has had its contract axed in Britain is beyond me.