Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator O'Toole also raised the matter of freight transport. Senator Mansergh pointed out that freight transport is very expensive and if its provision is to be considered by Government a major subsidy would be required. I recall having this debate with the Department of Finance and others and it could never be justified as those who were sending the goods would not pay increased rates. Nevertheless, the outcome would be fruitful as there would be fewer trucks and fewer dangerous incidents on the road, however one quantifies this in monetary terms.