Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Metro north is part of Transport 21 and, as far as I know, the Railway Procurement Agency applied for the railway order a few weeks ago. It is a case of going full steam ahead and there is no change in that regard. Four major groups have made their pitch and the Department of Finance will issue final approval when it sees the final tender price, which is quite reasonable. From the point of view of the Department, I hope it will be a matter of going full steam ahead. There are many rumours and suggestions about other matters but metro north is probably the main priority within the Department.

On the Senator's reference to the issue being forwarded to the Dublin Transport Authority, if the Government or an agency were to say power should be taken from the local authority with a view to making a decision itself, there would be uproar at local authority level. I was there for long enough myself. Local authority members clamour for power but when they get it, they cannot use it or cannot make a deal among themselves.

My perception of the problem is that some councillors have tried to draw the lines too wide. If that is the issue, they should try to draw them where the problem exists. Everybody understands the effort to make appropriate no-parking zones for the areas closest to Croke Park, whether that is Iona Road, Clonliffe Road or otherwise. I will not try to pretend to read the minds of councillors but the exclusion zone is so wide, many areas are included that would not normally have a problem.

It is up to the councillors. They have the power. If they cannot do the business, they could all sign up and ask the Department to take back the power from them. That would make many people who were involved in an earlier era, including the Senator and I, look very foolish but, having got them power, they cannot agree to implement it. If they want to hand back the power, perhaps the Department would consider a formal request, if they all sign up to it.