Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Ardagh's comments on the INIS website. I did not realise that there had been such problems with it. It is only right that Members of the Oireachtas have full confidence in the INIS website and I fully support her in this regard.

On the issue raised by Senator Conway-Walsh, one would think by what she said that there had been no investment in our road network. The road network is in the very best state I have ever seen in the context of surfacing, signposting, etc. I remember an occasion in the late 1990s when Senators, as public representatives, had to propose that the Government introduce a 10p increase in the price of a gallon of fuel to be ring-fenced for filling potholes throughout the country. I have never seen the roads I travel in as good a state of repair as they are at present.

On quite a number of occasions, my colleague, Senator Mulherin, has referred to obligations of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The latter has delayed a number of projects in County Mayo. It has delayed a bridge at Cloongullane in Swinford. A bridge over the River Moy was proposed for a new road from Ballina to Swinford but the project was refused. Recently, funding of €500,000 to develop and widen the Castlebar to Belmullet road was held up by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I hope the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will come to the House at some point to discuss the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The freshwater pearl mussel has cropped up all over County Mayo. I am sure it is also the case in other counties. It has prohibited some farmers from draining their land. Senator Conway-Walsh alluded to situations where some drains were not opened. Many farmers are not allowed to open drains and this freshwater pearl mussel is causing some problems. I support the call that the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht come to the House to discuss the National Parks and Wildlife Service.