Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

We have to continue investing in our rail service across Dublin and in a metro. We will not get traffic moving freely without a metro, given the levels of car ownership and employment in the city. We should not have to wait seven or ten years for this. Building the metro in Madrid caused far less disruption there than building Luas has done here. Our systems and our methods to date have been found wanting. I do not know whether consultants are to blame, as Senator Browne said and as Professor Melis believes. He says we have too many consultants, consulting among themselves and with local authorities, and that does not allow for quick decision making on behalf of Government. For those reasons the metro is essential as is further investment in rail and in Dublin Bus. To have those investments we must ensure our unions and the management of CIE deliver reform with that future investment.