asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's plans for the maintenance and development of the Dublin-Belfast rail link; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin-Belfast Rail Link.
2.
It is a matter for Iarnrod Éireann and the Northern Ireland Railways to maintain and develop the Dublin to Belfast railway line.
The Deputy will be aware from previous statements that the Government are most concerned to ensure that the line is kept open and safe for travel and that they condemn in the strongest possible terms the attacks which have occurred since last December. The Government are also concerned at the threat that these attacks constitute to the livelihoods of those who work on the line.
I welcome the Minister's reiteration of his support for the railway line and the Government's opposition, which I know is shared by everybody in the House, to the disruption of service and destruction of the line. Would the Minister not agree it may come to a point if the attacks on the line continue that as a matter of political decision assistance would have to be given to Iarnrod Éireann, to maintain the line because of the loss of trade on it?
With regard to maintaining the line as such, that is a matter for another Minister but the Deputy is correct, and would be interpreting the views of the Government, and I am sure of this House, that the line should be kept open and operative. It would be the intention of the Government to ensure that this would be so.
It is the responsibility of both security forces to see that the railway line is kept open.