Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply. Three reports have been published on the western rail corridor in recent times. The Minister of State rightly referred to the EY report, which has been completely discredited. As to the response it received, to say there was criticisms of some aspects of the report is being very kind. I will not delve into it further on this occasion.

I often wonder how the JASPERS review might have viewed Knock Airport when it was in its infancy. The airport would not have been built if the same approach had been taken in analysing the prospective success of such projects in a region such as the west.

What is missing from the Minister of State's reply is the Bradley report on the western rail corridor that was commissioned by West=On=Track. It provided Professor John Bradley's appraisal of the economic and social benefits of the western rail corridor and showed that not only would it be financially viable, but it would bring social and economic benefit to the region. It would do exactly what the Government says it wants to do, that is, to connect the region and bring balanced regional development.

We have been told for quite some time that the draft report can be expected imminently. It would be welcome to have an approximate date as to when we can expect to see the report. I have grave concerns about ministerial approval, North and South, being required to publish the report. There is no a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland and we do not know when we will get one. We cannot allow this to constrain us from progressing an important project for an entire region.