Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Nobody can object to this proposal. I tested the height of tunnels in France and Italy and other European countries. There is nothing particularly wrong with what we did. It has been presented as being reactionary, but I do not accept that. I have been overtaken on my bicycle by these big "cubes", as I call the supertrucks. They are frighteningly dangerous and create a slipstream, similar to a Ferrari, which sucks people in. The competent decision arising from not increasing the height of the port tunnel is to ban these trucks from our roads. They are going to come to the city, and the solution will be worse than the problem. There is a slight gain, in terms of economies of scale, for transport people. However, the cost of impact on road infrastructure is massive. These trucks have treble the impact on roads compared to ordinary vehicles.

I have not heard the Minister mention the issue of Operation Freeflow. We are coming up to seachtain na Nollag, and we need to bring it into operation immediately.

Senator Brian Hayes said he would not object to introducing competition for Dublin Bus, and he praised the company. I am glad he did, because it deserves praise. It has hugely improved its service. The Senator spoke of bringing in private competition. I have an agnostic view on the matter. I am neither in favour nor against private or public transport. If we introduce competition, there must be fairness to all. Those allotted city routes must provide Sunday morning services. A route allotted in the country must, for example, cater for one's granny going to the dispensary from Dunquin on Sunday morning. In order to have a level playing pitch, a certain level of service must be provided.

I intended to point out that I could not find any park and ride facility on the north side of the city, but until I heard Senator Terry speak, I did not know there was none. That is quite appalling. My route to town runs through the Finglas area. The Finglas QBC is probably the most successful such bus lane in the city. Apart from a minor hold up for buses at Hart's Corner it is free flow all the way and is an absolutely dependable service. However, there is no park and ride facility. People leave their cars in pub car parks and the like. This causes major problems although it is the least technical of issues. There is plenty of space on the periphery of the M50, along the N2 and even the N3, Senator Morrissey's area, for major park and ride facilities and these should be put in place.

We should be given a start date for the metro.