Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I start on the transport theme also, in particular the Ryanair strike. Ryanair's recognition of trade unions at Christmas was welcomed, but that also means having to negotiate. Unfortunately, there has been very little negotiating taking place.

One of the reasons I would like to see Deputy Ross appear in the House is to discuss his transport brief. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill was passed in the House last night, which was welcome. The legislation resulted from the tribunals relating to interference in planning matters. We have many infrastructure programmes taking place, not least the Leader's motorway connection between Cork and Limerick, and we need to ensure the integrity of the public consultation process is upheld.

My concern relates to MetroLink and, more widely, to the standards and integrity of public consultation in general. We must ensure submissions are reviewed properly, clearly and justifiably and provided with a proper response. The Minister, Deputy Ross, replied to me in the House recently on a Commencement matter relating to MetroLink. He said he would meet residents at the end of the year and at the end of the public consultation process. The National Transport Authority has already indicated that its report will be out in August. As such, it is clear that either the Minister is not on top of his brief or the NTA is not briefing him on what is happening with a major infrastructure project.

While we are still in the public consultation period on MetroLink, we have had three different announcements by three Ministers. We have had statements from the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and, now, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government saying the route has changed and the construction level is going from dual bore to single bore. They have said the line has changed on the northside and the southside. It calls into question the public consultation process on MetroLink, which puts a question mark, in turn, over public consultation on all major infrastructure plans announced in Project 2040. Are we going to see a proper consultation process which has integrity and to which everyone has equal access? Not everyone has had equal access to the public consultation process relating to MetroLink. This is taking us back to the tribunal era.

We are now seeing Government interference in a consultation process which is not something I have seen before. If the Leader is not too sure about this, he might like to open this morning's edition of The Irish Times. A very clear process has been laid down whether on special development zones, major roads or major rail lines. We must ensure that the integrity of the process of consultation with the public is upheld and that everyone has equal access, whether it is a motorway from Limerick to Cork or a railway line in Galway or Dublin. However, it does not appear to be happening at the moment.