Brendan Ryan (Labour)

On the issue raised by Senator O'Toole, it has been my view that for at least 40 years, the Department of Finance has wanted to close down our railways. There is no other logical reason to explain why there is an obstacle to expanding the rail network every step of the way. Sheer pressure forced us to expand passenger rail, and the Department is clearly determined not to allow the same to happen to freight. It is an economic, environmental and infrastructural disaster to allow rail freight to be run down.

Regardless of whether it needs public policy, funding, etc., it is up to the Government to sort out Iarnród Éireann, explaining to the company and those involved in large-scale transport that the best option environmentally and economically is rail transport. We must find out why it has not panned out like this, and not just accept it. Every other country in western Europe makes extensive use of rail for freight purposes, and it is up to us to do so also.

I ask the Leader for a debate in the immediate future on the issue of water pollution in our rivers. The EPA has issued a report stating that one third of all our river water is polluted, with two causes of pollution identified as agriculture and sewage. One of these, at least, is a matter of public policy, and it is extremely serious. We discuss tourism, etc., but the entirety of inland tourism will collapse if all our rivers are polluted. It is an extremely critical issue and I ask for an urgent debate.