Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Transport yesterday that more than 200 km of dual carriageway has now been upgraded to motorway standard. I raised this matter in the House previously. This upgrade will bring the speed limit on such roads up to 120 km/h. It is only right that the huge investment we are making in our road network will benefit the economy. Time is money in that respect. I welcome this upgrade.

I request that the Leader arranges a debate on a review of all speed limits with the Minister in attendance early in the autumn. They are set artificially low throughout the country. Even the AA has ridiculed the fact that they are set artificially low. This will give rise to serious public disquiet when the rolling out of the private camera system becomes operational.

It is good that we will have a debate on Northern Ireland today. What happened last night is regrettable. We need to recognise in these Houses that if we were to contact people in Northern Ireland, particularly in Nationalist and republican areas, we would find that there is considerable concern that the reciprocity that they expected from Unionism has not been forthcoming. Since the Good Friday Agreement there has been very little recognition of the North-South element of the Agreement. That needs to happen if we are to ensure that the peace process, which everybody wants to continue, is fully bedded down.

I was touched by Senator Buttimer's concern about people on this side of the House. I seek an early debate on swine flu, which is becoming quite serious in the neighbouring jurisdiction. A number of people who have died from it had no other illness, which confirms the concerns of the World Health Organisation in classifying swine flu as a pandemic. I seek a debate on it some time in September when the Minister can fully set out the plans and procedures that are in place with the HSE in order to contain what will be a serious health situation for the population.