Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

On many occasions I have raised the issue of road safety, particularly with a view to our motorway network and the lack of service stations on it. I have focused on the M9, to which we referred today. I am disappointed that it seems there has been political interference. Has there been interference with the decision of the NRA and Kildare County Council to open the M9, which was due to open next week? If it is the case, it smacks of cronyism and this must be a matter of concern to everyone here. I arranged a cross-party petition on behalf of traders seeking a slip road for road users in the absence of a service station. I am disappointed to find that local Deputies got involved in this opening, which was due early next week.

Those in the south east have been waiting for years for this stretch of road and the Government must be commended for investing in it. Why go and ruin it all with such cronyism and interference when the road is due to open? It is not good enough. It is Fianna Fáil's answer to local problems they are having because the slip road and junction cannot be achieved. This is not how we should do business. It is very disappointing from a road safety viewpoint. I support Senators' call for the Minister to come into the House and make a statement on the matter. We need transparency on this decision. I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister to discuss road safety in general because it is an important matter.