Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It used an existing route, but the Minister can refer to that.

The point is that we must ensure issues such as insurance and liability are covered and there is nothing in that regard that could affect people's private property. What about tourists who stray off the route and go onto people's private property? Where does liability lie in that case? What about farms where there are four movements of cattle per day, such as dairy farms?

What about dividing paddocks and splitting flocks and herds? What about the labour costs and access to water? In my area, the route is proposed to run alongside the Ballinamana River but that river is used to water cattle at the moment. The Minister of State and I both know the price of water and the controversy surrounding it at present. A lot of issues must be worked through here. In principle, I am in agreement with the proposal but I am on the side of the landowner here because I want the lands for the greenway from Dublin to Galway, and particularly from Athlone to Galway, to be acquired by agreement rather than by compulsory purchase order, CPO.