David Norris (Independent)

I support the calls for a debate on transport. I echo what Senator Dooley said about the Leader when she was Minister for Transport. She was the only Minister in living memory who had the courage to keep an open mind on the metro project. I appreciated that very much, as did all sides of the Houses, and she did a good day's work. It is important we have a debate on the metro. This does not exclude consideration of the rest of the country but I think it is natural that we spend some time considering Dublin's transport problems because it is the capital city, one third of the population lives here and many country people come to Dublin, use the transport system and are frustrated by it. It is unwise to create that false urban-rural divide. We should consider the problems of the country on an integrated basis.

I welcome that on "Questions and Answers" last Monday, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, made it clear the metro project is still under active consideration and that yesterday the Taoiseach made the same point in the other House when, for some obscure reason, the Labour Party tried to suggest the metro was a dead duck. The Taoiseach made it quite clear it was under active consideration and could come on stream in a comparatively short space of time. This House would help the process by having a debate on the matter.