Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in calling for a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the atrocities in Yemen and Syria. Ireland is very well placed as an independent arbiter to try to highlight these very difficult and gut-wrenching horrors. I look forward to the debate. We need to bring the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the House.

A map of the island of Ireland shows motorways going to Belfast and Galway. There is an area between Galway up to Donegal, Sligo, Roscommon and over to Belfast that has no motorway or dual carriageway. We talk about the A5 and other roads. If we are serious about bringing our country together, we must bring these up to dual carriageway or motorway capacity. While I can drive from Galway to Dublin in two hours, to come from Boyle and Roscommon one has to pass through two or three towns where there is traffic. This could help us get further jobs in the areas.If you can be within two hours or an hour and a half of a major city, it will make sense. I know some work has been done but I do not think the NRA has been at the forefront in treating it with the respect and urgency it needs. I would be delighted if the Leader could ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss those few outstanding roads issues.