Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I join with Senator O'Toole and other Members regarding the amount of freight being diverted from rail to road, as it is a matter of concern. I worked in the shipping and transport business for a number of years. While liner trains once went from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Sligo and Belfast to Waterford Port nightly, practically none does now. CIE does not seem to be making an effort to keep that market. Its rates are not competitive and it is driving more trucks onto our roads, which congests traffic everywhere. I agree with Senator Mansergh that there must be a subsidy and that Irish Rail must put its interest back into freight, as the interest is not currently there.