Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Grace O'Sullivan in regard to her comments and to offer my sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives while cycling. It is one of the only sectors where investment has gone backwards in recent months in that we have seen funding cut for the design of two major greenways. Ministers were appointed on 6 May and, since then, nearly every Minister has outlined a list of priorities. It is 151 days since Deputy Shane Ross was appointed Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport but we have not seen a list of priorities in that 151 days. We expect the budget next week yet we still do not know his priorities.

Why is it important? We have well over 200,000 people working in the tourism sector and over €7 billion in revenue comes from that sector to the State coffers yet we do not know what are the Minister's priorities. When he was on the Opposition benches, he clearly outlined his disgust and dismay in regard to the boards of the Dublin Airport Authority and the quangos. He mentioned this with great humour at times, when he would take off his glasses and lean back and give out about the boards of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and several others. Yet, since he was appointed Minister, we have never heard him remark about the appointments for which he has responsibility or how he wishes to see investment made.

The Minister's budget is quite significant at well over €1 billion and heading for €2 billion since the last budget. I would like to see the Minister come to the House to outline his priorities. We have heard about every other Department and about him vetoing the appointment of judges, yet we have not heard of him vetoing appointments to boards over which he has control.He has talked about investment in Waterford hospital. He has commissioned an independent costing and review of the western rail corridor. Will that be the next Waterford hospital resulting in another row with another Minister of State going offside? We urgently need the Minister to come to the House to outline his priorities. Every other Minister has put theirs on their websites. We have no benchmark against which to judge him on the budget and whether he has been successful in securing investment in his area of responsibility. He has been the only Minister who has been quiet about his remit, investment in which is key to the country's recovery.