Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome H.E. Ms Larysa Gerasko, the Ambassador of Ukraine, who is the Ukrainian people's representative in our country. I join with others in condemning Russia's invasion and attempted annexation of an independent state. I reiterate our resolve to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainians and utterly condemn Russia's attack not just on Ukraine, but on our democracy and Western democracy.

I wish to raise again the issue of public transport in Dublin city and the greater Dublin area. Specifically, I draw the House's attention to the announcement earlier today that the statutory planning application deadline for the MetroLink has been extended. The deadline for submissions - an issue I have raised in the House - was 25 November, which has now been extended to 16 January. I welcome the extension and the additional six weeks for people to make submissions. I am critical of the fact that for my constituency and community, this is the second statutory planning application taking place at the one time, which is putting a financial burden of €100 on people in my community who wish to make a submission. I also must question how it could be that a planning application for a public transport infrastructure project that is estimated to require an investment of €9 billion at current costs - and God knows what it will cost when it goes ahead - could actually have an error and an omission that would require this amendment to a statutory planning process. I renew my request for a debate in this House on the National Transport Authority, NTA, and the public transport plans for Dublin city.