I did not want the rambles through Erin answer which the Taoiseach gave.
Ceisteanna–Questions (Resumed).
The Deputy does not like to hear what has been done.
I want something much simpler, I want to know if the chairman of the Progressive Democrats is correct when he says the roads programme is four years behind schedule.
He is wrong when he says that.
Yes or no. I do not want a tour of the 32 counties without an answer to the question.
If he is in the Progressive Democrats, he is always wrong.
Is he right or is he wrong? Is the roads programme behind schedule? We will have to complain to Deputy Harney.
The Deputy has to get a better source.
On the same matter, is the Taoiseach telling the House that there will be a dual carriageway from Dublin to Cork in four years? Regarding An Action Programme for the Millennium, and acknowledging an increase in employment, one of the major obstacles we face is a major skills shortage. How does the Taoiseach propose to ease the visa restrictions to allow immigrants work permits and greater access to work permits?
On the national development plan and the roads to Belfast, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford, the NRA was given the task of putting project teams together to design those either in blocks or in large contracts. I mentioned the Belfast road. The NRA recently set out Waterford which will be in two contracts; there will be a number in Cork. They are designing and planning in a way that can—
The Taoiseach is finally accepting our advice.
Yes, I accept that. When this was being discussed some years ago, everyone stated that we could not do what we have done in Waterford. I acknowledge that Deputy Quinn did raise that. It was done across county councils. The experts say that in the case of Waterford the project has been shortened by five years.
It still will not be completed until 2007.
Some will drift into 2007. Some of these roads were not expected to be completed until 2012.
On the second part of the question, a work permits Bill is coming before the House. Last year 20,000 non-EU people came through that system, compared to 800 more recently. It is a large number of people. There is a problem in that employers have a long delay, particularly in certain industries. I acknowledge that they need greater certainty and a faster turn around. Additional staff were employed to expedite matters. With the range of countries from which people come and the checking system, it is still too slow. They are streamlining that again to make it less bureaucratic and simpler. The old system which dealt with only a few hundred applicants is too cumbersome. Subject to correction, the new system was introduced earlier this year and that is desirable.
The Deputy is correct in that our unemployment rate is under 3.5% . In a number of the key sectors there is no unemployment. The information communication technologies sectors tell me they have 50 or 60 vacancies. The system has to be faster because people will come from non-EU countries. We want to do that. I hoped we could do without the legislation but it is due.
Does the Taoiseach accept, given his most recent comment, that the two nations most prominent in visas were Australia and Canada? Other nations from where we want to recruit people are not well represented. More importantly, does he accept that a major obstacle in completing the national roads programme and other infrastructural projects is the difficulty with land? Does the Taoiseach accept the requirement to pay land owners a fair price will be a big obstacle to fulfilling the ambitions laid out in the national roads programme and other infrastructural projects? The imposition of a national indicative price for land is having a disastrous impact on the progress of many road projects, two of which in my constituency will not progress until a more realistic price is paid. Will the Taoiseach accept that no progress will be made unless the money paid allows a farmer to buy replacement land?
Deputy Howlin asked me the same question a few weeks ago, and the answer is yes. Progress has to be made as all land is not the same. The NRA, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, and the Minister for Finance have tried to rectify the matter; it has to be dealt with. Farm bodies, who I have been meeting on other issues, have raised this issue. I acknowledge there will not be a resolution unless the structure is changed. Solutions have been found in a number of areas, and I am disappointed Wexford is not one of them. I will mention this to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.
In terms of the countries from which people are given work permits—
A member of the Opposition recently asked a parliamentary question on this matter.
I did.
The range of countries from which people are given work permits surprised me. I believe people came from 63 or 73 different countries. Admittedly, countries like Australia, the United States, Canada—
They are supplying the largest group by far.
—and a number of European countries that are not in the EU are supplying many people. People in certain countries are now focusing on this country as a place to work, and that will probably extend to other countries. It is important that the system works, as the private sector says it has to go to these countries to get the skilled people it requires. The enormous figure for Australia can be attributed to one or two year visas given to nurses.
Is there a possibility of amending the roads programme in the national development plan to include Slane bridge? The replacement of that disastrous bridge is not included in the plan despite the fact that 22 people have been killed there. If the NRA tells the Government it wants to bypass Slane with a new bridge, will money be made available? As we cannot put a price on life, would such a request be given favourable consideration, particularly as the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, is from that constituency.
Three major roads are to be built through the Meath constituency, the N2, N3 and N4, and this will affect a large number of farmers. If the land issue is not dealt with, the roads programme will not go ahead on time. People are being asked to accept one third of the money it would take to replace an acre of land. This is not acceptable and, as my leader said, unless it is dealt with these programmes will take four years longer than necessary to complete.
The Slane bridge issue is not within my remit, but I am sure the Deputy will pursue it with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. We are all aware of the recent tragedy at the bridge, as well as those that have taken place over many years. I have discussed the difficulties regarding land prices with Deputy Howlin and at the infrastructural committee, and an effort is being made to resolve them. People must be realistic about prices.
Is it not reasonable for a person to want to buy an acre of land to replace the one taken from him or her to build a road?
That is reasonable.
Deputy Noonan said the Government's record on the environment has been less than satisfactory, to put it mildly. Does the Taoiseach accept his record in that regard has been appalling, and that he has an old-fashioned attitude towards the environment? Does he accept his manifesto, which he mentioned, was high on aspirations which have not been delivered? I draw his attention to the levy on plastic bags. That would have been a very small gesture, but it has not been delivered. On 25 October last, the Taoiseach stated, "As I told the Deputy previously—
Please ask questions.
Does the Taoiseach accept he said to me this could be done by regulation or through the Finance Bill and does not require separate legislation? Why did the Taoiseach say that when he is now drafting separate legislation? The Taoiseach is deliberately dragging his feet on this matter because he does not want people to pay for plastic bags coming up to an election. That is his mindset.
The Deputy should not attempt to answer the question he is asking.
I am trying to look into the Taoiseach's mind, which is difficult at times.
It might provide a more informed answer than the one we will get.
I think I have an insight on this one. Why has the Taoiseach not delivered on this small point?
The Minister, Deputy Dempsey, is too busy doing other things.
Deputy Gormley got his insight wrong on this one. I admit I said it would be included the Finance Bill if there was not another suitable legislative measure. It will be passed in the Waste Management Bill which will be before the House shortly. If there had been no suitable Bill, it would have been included the Finance Bill. I agree with Deputy Gormley on the plastic bags issue.