James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As Members will be aware, there was an further earthquake in Nepal, focusing around the area of Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is a beautiful small Himalayan town. It is the first place in the Himalayas where one gets to see Mount Everest. I merely wish to inquire from the Deputy Leader what efforts are being made on behalf of the Irish Government to provide aid to the people of Nepal and the affected areas. When Deputy Costello was Minister of State in the Department concerned, an idea was floated that Shannon Airport would be used as a disaster hub, where aid and supplies could be stored and from which a concerted aid campaign on behalf of various European agencies could be operated. I would like to know if that has been progressed to any extent or if it was merely hot air, because hot air seems to be what we in the mid-west get when it comes to any form of development.

The motorway project for the N20, which is the main route between Ireland's second and third cities, Cork and Limerick, has again been shelved indefinitely. Anybody who has travelled this route will be aware that there are a number of dangerous accident blackspots - O'Rourkes Cross, Rockhill and Banogue come to mind. I travel it quite often. There is always bumper-to-bumper traffic in Charleville, Buttevant, Mallow, you name it. It is a disaster. That it has been shelved again is a poor reflection on efforts made by members of the Government from both Limerick and Cork. The idea that senior members of Cabinet do not see this as an important project for the area is not acceptable. I call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come in to this Chamber to explain why that decision was taken. In all fairness, and meaning no offence to the people of Clare and Galway, it is a joke that we can connect Crusheen and Gort via motorway yet we cannot connect Limerick and Cork via motorway. The Minister should come to the House at the earliest convenience to discuss this matter and the reasons behind the postponement.