Vol. 417 No. 5
4 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if, in regard to his speech to the Fianna Fáil Árd-Fheis, in which he said he would rather see money going into a light rail system serving places like Tallaght and the north city, than into roads, he will outline whether he intends to bring any specific proposals along these lines before Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Responsibility for bringing proposals for the improvement of public transport in Dublin to Government lies with the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications. I shall encourage her to do so, once Phase 2 of the Dublin transportation initiative is complete next September.
The Taoiseach, when referring to his preference for a light rail system, referred to the possibility of continuing with a port access route. Can he indicate what are his current views in relation to that route? Will he indicate whether he is satisfied that the procedures available to communities for making their views known on that port access route and on link roads to other motorways and circular routes is adequate given the number of complaints lodged by communities, particularly those on the northside of the city in relation to the Northern Cross Route? Is he satisfied that sufficient care and attention are being devoted to their concerns?
There are various options in relation to the routes to which the Deputy has referred. All the options will be considered and all voices for or against will be adequately listened to. I had been indicating that, in the long term future of Dublin, Phase 2, which will take into account an integrated transport system in Dublin — basically forms part of the issue I was discussing at the time.
Can the Taoiseach confirm in principle — as apparently he told the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis — that he supports the concept of providing a light rail system linked to Tallaght in County Dublin?
I said that in relation to future developments. Once the existing ones have been disposed of, my view was that light rail had a lot to commend it from the points of view of the environment, reduction of motor traffic in the city centre and, indeed, the overall alleviation of traffic congestion within the Dublin area.
In the light of the Taoiseach's stated commitment to a citizens' charter, Freedom of Information Bill and other worthy aspirations, is he aware that there is considerable concern among the various communities on the north side of Dublin in regard to the Northern Cross Route, in particular the port access route and that a number of complaints have already been lodged with the European Commission about inadequacy of consultation with such communities about such routes? I see the Minister for Justice talking to the Taoiseach; he must know a fair amount about this.
He was the former Minister for the Environment.
Will the Taoiseach say whether he will take a personal interest in the concerns of those communities in regard to those routes? Would he agree it is not sufficient simply to make statements about supporting this or that route without having some consultation with the people who will be affected by them?
Let us not get off the rails here.
A Cheann Comhairle, I think we are well off the rails at this stage. Indeed, the Deputy himself has strayed far from the rails in talking about a citizens' charter which is merely a proposal of mine to be examined by the Institute of Public Administration.
I presume that, if the Taoiseach is examining it, he is committed to it?
If the Deputy does not want to listen to what I am saying that is all right, but let him not then follow up with silly supplementaries. I said that, after the present road network proposals have been disposed of, the longer-term development of Dublin, the alleviation of its traffic congestion problems from an environmental point of view, and in respect of many other aspects, the provision of a light rail system had much to commend it. I support that concept. That is what I said. I do not go any further. The Deputy has gone on to question what would be citizens' rights within a charter of citizens' rights. We have not yet reached that stage.
The trouble is that the Taoiseach does not listen to my supplementaries.
If the Deputy does not want to listen, that is fine.
The Taoiseach referred also to the port access route. I asked a specific question about the rights of citizens——
This is tending to argument and debate. I am calling Question No. 5.
What has that to do with a supplementary to that question? The answer is nothing.
This is lecture time from the Taoiseach.
My next reply is something I am doing for citizens which I hope will be appreciated by all sides of the House.
