Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. When portfolios were being handed out, the gods smiled on the Minister. He got an excellent portfolio and a very hard-working Department of which I am very proud, as is anybody in the country. First impressions last. It is always exciting for me to arrive at Dublin Airport. If I were to find fault, it is being told I would arrive at terminal 2 but arriving at terminal 1 and having to walk half a mile, or being told I am to depart from terminal 2 but finding my aircraft is in terminal 1. I find it very annoying and I ask the Minister to talk to whoever is responsible for it. As my colleague, Senator Barrett, said, our ferry ports are excellent, but, again, it is a route march to the nearest railway station. We need to consider a way of transferring people there and back. Bus services and main roads around the country are excellent. The Minister has a lot going for him and his Department has done a huge amount of work. The one downside of our public transport system is our railways. Train travel is too expensive. Senator Moloney referred to the regional airports, and the Minister is to be commended on keeping them open. The Senator went on about Killarney a little, although it is only an island somewhere down in the south west.