Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I hope it will not damage the Minister of State's metronome irreparably to discover that I support the motion and oppose the amendment. I had hoped that the motion would be taken on its merits but the amendment invites us to consider and either endorse or condemn a range of motorway issues.

I have enormous regard for the work done by the NRA. It has done wonderful work — including the putting in place of a beautiful bridge — on the road to Belfast and I wish its counterpart on the other side of the Border was half as good. I pay tribute to it for that. However, that does not mean that we should canonise it for everything it does. Previous speakers referred to the need to move people through County Meath and to help them to commute. In that context, I hope the option of putting in place some form of rail transport will be considered. The one thing one learns about road construction is that regardless of one's plans, the road one is building will be almost overloaded by the time it is completed. This leads people to seek alternative routes. Roads produce traffic which leads to further roads and traffic and alternatives must be found.

Senator Morrissey inquired about what would happen when the various roads reached their destinations in Dublin. It takes me longer to travel from Dublin Airport to the Houses than it does for me to drive from home to the airport.

Another difficulty I have with the amendment is that it removes the focus from Tara and the more general matter about which we are concerned. One of the problems is that, as regards the route chosen, there appears to be an assumption that if Tara and Skryne can be saved then we can drive a road between them. This ignores the integrity of the existing archaeological environment.

A second problem relates to trial digs. If it was not such a bad metaphor, I would say to the Minister of State that if he is in a hole he should stop digging. Trial digs are fine to an extent but they rarely work well under pressure. Nobody has indicated what will happen if there is a major find. What would be the position if the type of mosaics to which Senator Henry referred or another Newgrange were discovered? Is it not the case that, in such circumstances, those involved would be really up against it? In my view, it is better to face these challenges early on rather than be obliged to deal with them later.

There appears to be an attraction in terms of having everything dealt with in this area in the form of a single PPP. I am not opposed to PPPs, which are a great utility in ways. In this instance, however, we must consider what would be the cost of delays. Let us consider whether, for example, a different equation might emerge if the cost and agony of undergoing appeals, protests, etc, was weighed against constructing an additional mile or two of motorway.

The crucial point relates to the integrity of the landscape around Tara. When people of the eminence of Professor Eogan and all the country's major archaeologists and scholars of this era are opposed to a particular line of policy, it is worthwhile stopping to review the situation, reconsider the options and test the information one has been given. Perhaps the Minister of State might consider what Thomas Davis said in 1845 about people running a road towards Tara.