John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to touch on two issues. The first is to welcome the decision yesterday by the Cabinet. I commend the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, on introducing changes to increase the sentence for assault causing harm to members of the Garda and emergency personnel. Anybody who assaults a police officer or somebody in emergency services who is doing their best to serve and assist the public should be duly sentenced for that crime. I certainly hope the increase of the maximum sentence from seven years to 12 will be a significant deterrent.

The other issue I wish to raise concerns the Irish Rail freight strategy for 2040. I call for a debate on this with the Minister for Transport. In line with the plan developed by Irish Rail, there are significant opportunities to increase the number of boxes transported by rail across the country. There is a significant link between Ballina and Waterford port. Waterford port is the only port that has lines that go directly to the quays, where containers can be transferred directly to ships. It is being underutilised. There is a great opportunity to take some of the excess capacity in Dublin Port and to have direct links, via Naas, to the Port of Waterford. This subject is very topical and a debate on it with the Minister for Transport would be welcome.