Seanad debates

Wednesday, 7 November 2018

10:30 am

Photo of Gerry HorkanGerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Georgian Ambassador and his wife to the Chamber. They are regular visitors to Leinster House and are actively involved with matters in our State.

I know of people who managed to travel 7 km, less than 5 miles, in 55 minutes this morning in Dublin. It was raining and there was much surface water, but we must have a debate with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport about traffic in the greater Dublin area, the provision of public transport, BusConnects and other matters. The Minister has been in the Chamber previously but generally he just gives a long speech and does not get enough time to answer the questions raised. The quality of life for people living in the greater Dublin area, people travelling long distances into Dublin and the people who live in Dublin city is greatly affected by the volume of traffic and the lack of connected public transport. It has improved somewhat with the Luas red and green lines, the DART and so forth but much more must be done. Our public transport is not up to the required specification for a growing capital city and the volumes of people using it.

I call on the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Ross, to the House. He is the constituency Deputy for the area of Dublin where I live. We must have a proper debate and proper provision because this is affecting everybody who works, lives and studies in the city every day. It is very important. For the people who travel in and out of the city every day and who are not living here, it is important for their quality of life that they are not spending hours in traffic, having the frustration of being late for work, having to get up extra early to ensure they are not late for work and so forth. It is a serious issue and I call on the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Ross, to the House with the utmost urgency.

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