Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The price tag for the sale of a Dublin Airport car park is €70 million. That is how profitable a Dublin Airport car park could be. That is how locked into car dependency our airport is and how vulnerable travellers are to airport car charges. MetroLink is on the way. Planning for it will be launched in September but it could take 12 years to complete. Why are we not prioritising airport bus routes? It will be 2024 before BusConnects reaches Dublin 15 and that is not good enough. Direct airport routes need to be prioritised.

The electrification and upgrade of the Dublin to Maynooth line under DART+ West is a vitally important project that will double frequency. There are challenges that come with the potential closure of level crossings but no one is suggesting the project should not go ahead, so why does Irish Rail consistently run anti-public public consultations? It ran two non-statutory consultations during level 2 and level 3 pandemic restrictions, with below par efforts on its part to adapt its communications and engagement in entirely different and difficult circumstances. Another public consultation took place during the summer months last year. It now looks like the statutory consultation through An Bord Pleanála will take place this summer when people are on their holidays. Why is Irish Rail so afraid of the full potential of a public consultation?

With the Cathaoirleach's indulgence, I wish a happy 12 July to those on this island who mark the day and do so respectfully. Let us remember, however, it is not culture if it is being used to put others down-----