Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is fine.

Senator Ned O'Sullivan spoke about the laid back attitude taken towards sports capital grants. Nobody has taken a less laid back attitude to sports capital grants than I have. When I came into office it was highly doubtful that any sports capital grants would be allocated and none had been awarded the previous year. As announced in the House and endorsed by me today, sports capital grants will be available and terms will be issued shortly. The allocation will be open and generous because sports capital grants are a priority and I am aware of their value.

Senator O'Sullivan also asked me to comment on hotel pricing in Dublin. I agree that prices are too high. I made a speech to one of the hotel groups recently in which I put them on notice that they are too high and that Dublin hotels were killing the goose that laid the golden egg. The Senator is correct and I agree with him that Dublin hotels will have to watch out.

On the issue of roads, a mid-term capital review has been launched and will be completed next year. I hope many of the roads issues raised by Senators will be addressed in the review. The sum of money provided for roads this year was not great. As Senators are aware, it is difficult enough to maintain roads in a steady state, as it is known, and there is very little money available for this purpose. Funding will accelerate in the coming years and I hope we will be able to produce some fairly good news for Senators in various places, as we have already done.

Senator Kieran O'Donnell raised the issue of the N20. He has been annoyingly persistent on that issue and we have been able, eventually, to provide him with some comfort that the issue is being addressed. The design and other preparatory work for the project are due to be done shortly. The Senator got hold of that information either before I did or almost simultaneously and managed to spread the news all over Limerick yesterday. That was not bad because it was certainly good news for him. Senator Victor Boyhan referred to Iarnród Éireann and the RSA. I have answered that question.

On the national ports policy, I will not be frightened to make any decision. If the relevant parties do not reach an agreement, I will be happy to make a decision. That is a given; it is included in the legislation and I will do it, but it would be wrong for me to trample on the process since there is due diligence and negotiations are taking place.

On the rail review, there are absolutely no closures planned. Even subject to political provocation from County Tipperary, I have no intention of closing any railway. That is a matter that is being addressed through public consultation. When those concerned return to me, decisions will have to be made, but the Government has absolutely issued no direction in that regard. It has made no decisions whatsoever and I have no intention of engaging in any closure, certainly at the moment. Let us see what comes from the consultation process.

A good point was made about the GAA and the Rugby World Cup. We should all pay tribute to the GAA for what it has done and the contribution it has made. I do not know the financial implications for it, but the historical significance to me of the fact that the GAA and the IRFU can work in tandem to this extent is fantastic. It is a great tribute to the GAA that it is co-operating in this way.

I have nothing to add on the issue of scrambling bikes. The Senator concerned will be familiar with what I said in the last Commencement debate on this issue during which I believe I indicated I would be willing to examine it in a new light.

I thank Senator John O'Mahony for acknowledging the difficulties in even keeping up with what was happening on the roads, particularly in his area. With regard to aviation, he should note that Knock airport is in no particular danger. It is very lucky in some ways because it has Ryanair operating from it. The commitment of Ryanair, although sometimes doubted, means that the airport is used much more. It deals with a fantastic number of passengers. Neither my Department nor I have any intention of threatening the airports in counties Donegal and Kerry. The Senator will be familiar with the fact that Waterford Airport is aggressively looking for a carrier so as to keep operating. The suggestion there is an agenda to do something with the regional airports that would be difficult for the associated communities does not arise.

The Senator addressed the issue of ticketing governance and the Olympic Council of Ireland, OCI. The public consultation process is starting tomorrow and governance is very high on the list in that regard and something in which many vested interests will have an interest. On the OCI issue which was raised by several Members, I do not want to say very much. I would love to say a lot about it, but, as everybody knows, I am constrained by the Moran inquiry.

I do not know whether someone is allowed to use props or visuals in this House, but Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn did so very well in pointing to the empty landscape. It would not be right for me to hold out too much hope for the provision of a railway line to County Donegal. That would be wrong. However, I understand the issue the Senator has with roads, particularly the A5. It is a very important issue. County Donegal is a black spot and the A5 project has been delayed because of funding problems, but it will be the first item on my agenda at the meeting of the North–South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Friday. I do not know whether that is any comfort to the Senator, but it was the first item on my agenda at the Cabinet meeting this morning. I am to meet my ministerial counterpart at the North–South Ministerial Council meeting. That Minister is, I believe, a member of the Senator's party. The delay in advancing some of the North–South projects, particularly the A5 project, gives cause for concern. I recognise what the Senator says about it and will do what I can at the meeting to accelerate progress.

It is welcome that Celtic Park is to be part of the bid for the Rugby World Cup. Let me remind Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn of a couple of matters. He said there was no air link between Dublin and Derry and that it would be wonderful if there were a better connection by the time the Rugby World Cup was held, especially if we were to win it in 2023. I point out to the many people who are asking how we will do various things in the timeframe outlined that 2023 is seven years away. There really is a tremendous opportunity, particularly with the mid-term capital review, to develop the infrastructure required if there are gaps, but there are far fewer than there were. The Taoiseach says he will have a reshuffle which I suspect will take place before 2023. As far as I am concerned, the infrastructure will be in place by the time in question. I will do everything possible to make realistic commitments, if necessary, before the bid for the Rugby World Cup is finalised in November next year.