Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since we last met we have witnessed and learned of many tragic situations around Ireland and across the world. On 15 March New Zealand was attacked in what we can only call an evil assault on the country. Some 50 innocent Muslims died and many more were wounded. I would like to put on record my solidarity, and that of the Fianna Fáil group, with the community of New Zealand as a whole and the Muslim community especially. There will be a day of solidarity and mourning today. We stand with them in their mourning.

I also put on record the sympathies of myself and the Fianna Fáil group for the teenagers who died in Cookstown, Tyrone, on St. Patrick's Day: Connor Currie, Lauren Bullock, and Morgan Barnard. Our thoughts and sympathies are with their families at this time. Unfortunately, over the weekend five people were killed in four different incidents on our roads. It is a worrying trend and I call for more vigilance in respect of road use. This loss of life is really a waste. Our thoughts are with those families as well.

I would like to raise the issue of the ESRI report regarding the impact of Brexit with a deal and that of a no-deal Brexit. We learn that there will be a cost to us of between €1.8 billion and €7.5 billion whatever the outcome. Over ten years this will increase to between €8 billion and €15 billion. That equates to nearly seven children's hospitals. I call for a debate in this House to determine what economic recovery plan the Government has in mind for after Brexit, whether in the case of Brexit with a deal or in the case of a no-deal Brexit. There will be a fallout whatever situation arises. We need to see some sort of economic stabilisation plan from Government to ensure that businesses around the country are impacted as little as possible.

I would also like to raise the issue of the metro. The plans for the metro were released today. Metro north is welcome, but we understand that the green line will be stopping at Charlemont. I would have thought that Government would be more ambitious. I was disheartened to hear an Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, automatically disregard the idea of a south-west line towards Terenure and Rathfarnham on the basis of population density. It was encouraging that he said there is a possibility that the line could go as far as UCD. Those living in the Terenure and Rathfarnham area will be aware of the traffic chaos. There is a serious lack of public transport in the area, which really needs to be addressed urgently. I cannot see any reason consideration for a south-western Luas should be disregarded from the outset.