Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

There is widespread acceptance across both sides of the House of the need for continued investment in public infrastructure and for maintaining focus on how it will be delivered. It has always been apparent that the cost of making this happen is immense. We have all acknowledged as much and there has been much discussion about it.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that there will be another cost for the delivery of the infrastructure, particularly in Dublin, in terms of the upheaval that will take place in the city when many elements of Transport 21 take place. The best example of this, and one which is now beginning to cause public debate, concerns what is to happen to St Stephen's Green. This is the site of the new metro stop, of big works for the inter-connector, and probably also for expansion of the Luas service. I call again on the Leader to facilitate a debate in this House on Transport 21.

The Leader has had many requests to organise a debate on the status of Transport 21, to allow Members to discover how the project stands and to put points of view across on these points. This has not happened. Two issues are becoming increasingly apparent. The first is that greater clarity is needed about how these projects are to happen. There is a growing and worrying perception that the city of Dublin will be closed while these projects are being delivered. This causes great concern to businesses within the area. The second point concerns what will occur with the projects in St Stephen's Green. There must be a much greater focus on the design of the buildings and works. Everybody will pay a big price when this happens and we must ensure that what will be in place will be genuinely beautiful.

I lend support to my colleagues who have called for a debate on the Lisbon treaty. I wish to make it clear, however, that I will not take lectures from Sinn Féin or anybody else on the "No" side.