David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I refer first to President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It is a highly dangerous and provocative move. There is very little that we can do in this country. However, this House has passed a motion calling on the Government to recognise the state of Palestine. That is something that we can do. I ask the Leader to raise this issue with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, and see if the Government will recognise the state of Palestine.

Today, I came here on the new cross-city Luas. It was a very convenient and efficient service. I congratulate those responsible on bringing it in on time and marginally under budget. This is unusual for a piece of transport infrastructure like this. However, yesterday all my predictions about the dangers of this system were brought to bear. We had complete traffic chaos in the centre of the city. I remember the late Garret FitzGerald, who drew the mathematics about the Luas, demonstrated that even at that time in those conditions of population it was impossible for the Luas to move sufficient numbers of passengers to meet the traffic situation in Dublin.

This is all part of a grand policy to force the private car out of the city. This is totally wrong. We also see this policy in the attitude of the planning authorities in Dublin. They have deliberatively restricted parking facilities in all new developments. Where are people going to park their cars? What about people who actually live in the inner city? Do we not have the right to have a car? I imagine there is a constitutional implication for people who want to have cars in the city. I do not suppose there is time now, but early in the new year can we have a discussion on the whole future of transport for the city of Dublin? With the Luas we have, again as I predicted, a confetti of insulation, wires and all the rest of it creating a very ugly blockage to the viewing of the historical architecture of Dublin.