Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

Tourism is facing many challenges. One important element to encourage tourism is having proper, efficient and accessible transport links. I support the amendment to the Order of Business regarding transport policy and the confusion between the Department of Transport and Iarnród Éireann management.

Last month, all Members welcomed the opening of the western rail corridor, an important development for tourism and business in the west. However, Iarnród Éireann is now proposing to close the rail corridor between Rosslare Europort, one of the busiest ports in the country providing access to Ireland for thousands of UK and European tourists, and Waterford, a gateway city for the south east. It is such decisions around which we need transparency. Will the Leader request the Minister for Transport to bring Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann to heel and take back control of them? These transport companies are taking unilateral decisions which are not helping the economy and tourism in particular.