Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two matters, both of which are business related. The first concerns the upgrade of the N52 from just outside Mullingar, at Cloghan, to Turin church, which is approximately seven miles from Delvin. It is proposed to close this stretch of national roadway for three months for upgrade works to continue. For one of the three months, there will be no work done. It is hard to believe but only in Ireland could this happen.

Over the Easter break, St. Patrick's Day and weekends, no work will be done. Much of the road is just passing through farmland. The new road is passing mainly through farmland; it is not passing by houses or is doing so only to a very small extent. If anything, the stretch of road is ideal for work during the night.

What is occurring really beggars belief. I implore the Leader to talk to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport about this. I acknowledge the Minister has much hassle to deal with at present but what is occurring is scandalous. The number of businesses that the works are pushing to the verge of closure is incredible, not to mention the 20-mile round trip that must be taken by way of a detour. It is absolutely crazy stuff. The work is to take three months but no work will be done for one of them.

I fully agree with Senator Ray Butler on the Revenue Commissioners. It has been floated for quite a while that councils will get the same powers as the Revenue Commissioners. This is unheard of. It would be criminal if councils could have access to one's bank account. If one were making a joint tax return with one's wife, they could take money from her. She could be a director in one's company. This is for the birds. I cannot believe this is being floated. It was in the newspapers. I saw it floated six months ago and believed it was incorrect. It is being floated again at present. I implore the Leader to nail this down.People have come through a very difficult time, particularly those with small businesses. We are talking about giving councils the same powers as the Revenue Commissioners. It would be criminal for us to do that. I implore the Leader to ask the relevant Minster to come into the House to discuss that and tell us that this is one kite that will not fly.