Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

As a member of the Joint Committee on Article 35.4.1° of the Constitution and Section 39 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924, I wish to clarify two points. The commitment to produce a report for the Dáil and Seanad was on the basis of the entire proceedings continuing. There was no commitment beyond that. It was not regarded as necessary. The committee issued an internal report on the progress of the committee over the period and the number of meetings. I agree with the point made that the committee was in uncharted waters. We have the benefit of the High Court and the Supreme Court experience, of section 3 provisions and other aspects. As the Chairman of the committee correctly said on many occasions, the exercise will be beneficial in future in that a roadmap has been created as to what might happen. What we learned about the court experiences would stand in good stead if this were ever to happen again, which it may not.

I fully agree with Senator Brian Hayes's comments on the M50. I was amazed this morning to see a schedule of new rates which will operate from 1 January 2007. Recent statements on transport made by Fine Gael indicated that even now at this stage, there is merit in the Government paying €20 million annually and lifting the barriers and removing this toll regime. After all, if there is a commitment to buy out the M50 tolling regime in 2008 for €1 billion, surely the Government can countenance spending €20 million during 2007 to buy it out then.