Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment that the Minister for Justice and Equality come to this House to clarify the situation regarding crime, justice and policing in light of the events in recent days.

I raise the issue of the Slane bypass in County Meath. The Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, who I acknowledge met me before Christmas about the Slane bypass - the Leader arranged that and I was thankful to him at the time because I was able to put a case to him about the Slane bypass - was due to meet members of the Slane bypass action group today. For whatever reason, that meeting was postponed. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is going about his duties as he normally does. He was on radio this morning. I would like to know why that meeting was postponed and if the Government can give a positive signal about the Slane bypass because it has not given any signal about it, with the exception of the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, when he was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, who announced at one point that funding would not be provided for it. We need a positive signal about the Slane bypass from this Government. The matter was in planning. It was refused by An Bord Pleanála. There was a ministerial intervention before that after this Government took office that was not positive, but since the work has been done, following the An Bord Pleanála refusal, there has not been a signal from Government, the decision-makers, the National Roads Authority or the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport about it, and we need such a signal.

I would point out also that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Donohoe, was due to meet the north Meath roads action group some weeks ago and that meeting was postponed also sine die, without a reassigned date. What is going on? Is the Minister too busy to meet these groups? Are these serious issues of health and safety not important? I assure the Cathaoirleach and the Leader that the Slane bypass is a serious matter of health and safety and life and death in my community.