Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise once again the issue of the western rail corridor and the all-island strategic rail review that has been sitting in draft form on the desk of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, but has not yet been published. When I raised this matter a number of weeks ago, I was told by the Minister that he was not in a position to publish the document. He said that because it is an all-island strategic rail review, there is a need for an Executive and a Minister for Infrastructure to be in place in Northern Ireland because they have to publish the document jointly. I raise this matter because the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, has said he will not be calling assembly elections for another year, which would be January 2024. Now is the time for the Minister to reflect, change his position and publish, without further delay, the all-island strategic rail review in order that we in the South can advance our rail projects. Surely it is not reasonable or acceptable to delay the advancement of our rail projects while we wait for those in politics in Northern Ireland to get their act together. When will the all-island strategic rail review be published? When will we see the projects to which I refers being advanced and delivered? In that context, I am specifically interested in the western rail corridor and the line from Athenry to Claremorris.