Enda Kenny
Question:1 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the projected costs to date of the communications unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28190/06]
Ceisteanna — Questions.
Departmental Agencies.
Trevor Sargent
Question:2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the functions and cost of the communications unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30659/06]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:3 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the costs incurred to date in 2006 by the communications unit in his Department; the projected costs to the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30871/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.
The total projected cost of the communications unit for 2006 is €352,626. Some €153,757 is a direct cost to my Department, with on average €39,774 being borne by the five other Departments which have staff seconded to the unit. The cost to date in 2006 is €264,470.
The unit provides a media information service to Ministers and their Departments. It furnishes news updates and transcripts that ensure Departments are kept informed of any relevant news developments in a fast and efficient manner. In this way, Departments are able to provide a better service to the public.
The communications unit works an 18-hour day based on a flexible rota of three working shifts. The unit is staffed by six established civil servants, five of whom are seconded from other Departments. The work of the unit means that Departments have greatly reduced their use of external companies, and it ensures that they no longer duplicate work such as transcripts and tapes. The communications unit is estimated to save Departments approximately €200,000 per annum.
I wish to ask a question that has been asked before regarding the communications unit and I see no reason it should not be put again. The information gleaned at taxpayers' expense should be available to all political parties so that we can best inform ourselves and best ensure we are responding on matters of policy. It would also ensure we are as productive as possible. Why is the information not made available to all political parties?
Does the communications unit have a role in monitoring not just broadcast and print media, but media outlets such as Internet blogs? How has it changed to meet the development in communications? Has the communications unit been briefed on the possible implications of the Privacy Bill 2006, given that section 13 may involve it in securing secret hearings, if that Bill is to be implemented into legislation. Is the communications unit involved in drafting, or is it briefed on, that legislation?
The communications unit is scrupulously apolitical. It is a Civil Service unit which provides a service to Government in its extended departmental sense, that is, to Ministers, Ministers of State and a large range of officials across Departments. It has not moved into Internet monitoring or similar services. It focuses purely on the national media and one or two of the bigger local stations and is limited to that. It has no role whatever in any of the policy areas, or in drafting or speeches.
Other parties cannot use it.
No.
I cannot think of anything to ask.
Does the communications unit do any work that might be partisan in nature, such as monitoring the activity or statements of Opposition parties? Does it communicate with people within particular party organisations about what an appropriate response would be? Does it have any such partisan role?
I did not quite grasp the reason in the Taoiseach's reply why this valuable resource of information relevant to Departments would not be made available to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Did I miss a component of the sums in that it costs approximately €400,000 but saves approximately €200,000? Is the Taoiseach stating the cost would be €600,000 if this unit did not exist?
Previous to the unit's existence, outside companies were used for many years to provide tapes of programmes and related issues. That would cost approximately €200,000. The communications unit provides the service of recording news programmes etc. That is all it does. There is no political analysis or monitoring. It operates strictly under Civil Service codes.
The only reason it is not available to the Houses of the Oireachtas is that it is a service for Government, meaning the extended range of Civil Service across Departments. There are approximately 100 people——
Would it not be useful to the Oireachtas? We would track these issues largely on a fairly amateur basis compared to this very sophisticated unit. It would certainly improve the quality of the work here if we could get that sort of reportage.
I would not say it is very sophisticated. It would probably not be nearly as good as political press offices, but the staff do their jobs as civil servants. If the Oireachtas Commission believes it would be useful, there are no great secrets in what is available. Perhaps it would save even more money.
Departmental Staff.
Enda Kenny
Question:4 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the duties and responsibilities of the special political advisers appointed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28191/06]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:5 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the number and roles of political advisers in his Department in 2002 and 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28317/06]
Trevor Sargent
Question:6 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the functions and cost of special political advisers appointed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30660/06]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:7 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the political staff currently working in his Department; if it is intended to fill the position of special adviser (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30872/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together.
There are currently five special advisers appointed by me. The Deputies will be aware that one of my special advisers recently took up office with the Health Service Executive. No decision has yet been taken to replace this special adviser. There has been no increase in their number since I took office.
Under the direction of the programme manager, the primary function of the advisers is to monitor, facilitate and help secure the achievement of Government objectives and to ensure effective co-ordination in the implementation of the programme for Government. They are also tasked with giving me advice and keeping me informed on a wide range of issues, including business, financial, economic, political, administrative and media matters and performing such other functions as may be directed by me from time to time.
Each of the advisers liaises with a number of Departments and acts as a point of contact in my office for Ministers and their advisers. My advisers attend meetings of Cabinet committees and cross-departmental teams relevant to their responsibilities. They also liaise, on my behalf, with organisations and interest groups outside of Government.
In addition, a number of my advisers have specific responsibilities relating to speech drafting. My programme manager meets other ministerial advisers on a weekly basis. He monitors and reports to me on progress in implementing the programme for Government.
Given that we are now in the run-up to a general election, can the Taoiseach explain the position of the political advisers in his Department during an election campaign? Are the political advisers contracted to work to the end of the current Dáil, up to and including the general election or beyond that to the formation of a new Government? What is the position of political advisers in the period after a general election being called?
Does the Taoiseach avail of their services during the election campaign period? Do the advisers have a role and function in, for example, the preparation of public statements, policy positions or whatever other role they may perform in the ordinary course of the Dáil in place?
If it is the case that they continue in the service of the Taoiseach once the Dáil is dissolved, is there an obligation on the Taoiseach, under the reportage to the Standards in Public Office Commission, to advise of the services of these paid officials post the dissolution? It is a very important point and one that requires clarity at this time, given that we are facing a general election.
The position on this has been clear for many years. The contracts for advisers always run to the formation of the next Government. They cease their duties on the night before a Government is appointed, if they are not reappointed, as happened in the last instance. If they involve themselves on a full-time basis in a campaign, they must take leave. They are not allowed to be working in the normal course of their jobs and be involved in other activities. They must use their own annual leave according to the guidelines that were set down even before the introduction of the Standards in Public Office Act.
Tá ceist agam ar an Taoiseach. The Taoiseach says that the functions of political advisers are to achieve Government objectives. Aside from implementing the programme for Government, would one of those objectives be, for example, the retention of power? Can the Taoiseach give us any idea what other objectives might be involved? The Taoiseach also said that other functions may be assigned to political advisers as directed, from time to time, by him. I wonder if, in recent weeks for example, the Taoiseach was advised to say that the €50,000 loan was off the wall. Is that the kind of advice he received? Are the Taoiseach's political advisers covered by Towards 2016?
When I referred to specific departmental responsibilities I meant that each of them covers a number of Departments. One of them has responsibility for the Departments of Agriculture and Food, Finance, and Health and Children. They would liaise and keep in touch with the relevant issues. Another has responsibility for the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Transport, Social and Family Affairs, and Arts, Sport and Tourism. A third has responsibility for the Departments of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Education and Science, and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Another has responsibility for the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs. The vast majority of their work is involved in engaging and liaising with Departments on Government policy issues relevant to the meetings of the Dáil; they engage with departmental staff and Cabinet sub-groups relevant to those Departments. Predominantly, that is their job.
I also said they were assigned other duties from time to time. Regularly enough they meet groups on my behalf that would be seeking meetings with me. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would be impossible for me to meet all the groups that seek such meetings but if they can meet an adviser they can at least put forward whatever issues they wish to pass on to the relevant Government section.
What about crisis management or electoral strategy?
No. If they engage in that, it is done in their spare time.
Of which they have plenty.
The Taoiseach referred to the former special adviser who has now taken up a position with the HSE but no decision has been taken to replace him. Does the Taoiseach intend to replace him?
I read in the newspapers that the programme manager for the Tánaiste has departed. Will that position be filled? I am not sure why the Tánaiste would need a programme manager, as the Taoiseach has him where he wants him after yesterday. Will the post be filled anyway?
Is it true, as reported in one of the newspapers at the weekend, that another of the special advisers is taken up full-time in advising the Taoiseach and acting as a go-between with the various tribunals? On the face of it, that seems to be a fairly extraordinary mission. At the end of all of this, the man ought to be properly rewarded. I hope there is a bonus system in place.
Katherine Bulbulia, who was a special adviser to the former Tánaiste, left office on 13 September. She was programme manager to the then Tánaiste and was based in my Department. I assume she will be replaced.
My adviser has gone to the HSE. My thinking on that at this stage is that I will not replace that position but will reassign work within the Department. Some of the functions which we were undertaking will just revert to the Civil Service system.
It is not true that the third person is involved full-time in advising the Taoiseach.
He would need to be a senior counsel.
Who determines the demarcation line between the role of political advisers after a general election is called and during the course of same? Who determines the demarcation line between their traditional role while the Dáil is in session, and that concerning not only the Taoiseach's responsibilities for the duration of the campaign but also those of a contesting candidate in a general election? It would be easy to see the waters muddied in such a situation. Where political advisers have a role or function complementary to the electoral effort of the Taoiseach and his colleagues, he has indicated that to have any such participation they would be obliged to take annual leave. Is it the case that by taking annual leave they could then give their services? Is that strictly correct or appropriate?
It is.
Annual leave is part of the terms of anyone's employment but in those circumstances it seems to be stretching their functions and responsibilities somewhat that they would have an electoral role. In that situation they are more than political advisers. In the Taoiseach's view, would they not also be electoral aides?
If somebody is contracted to a job and takes annual leave, outside of that they are entitled to do what they will, once it is within the law. They have to take annual leave, however, and cannot be involved in their day-to-day advisers' work during an election campaign when they are working on a party political basis. That is the distinction, so if they are working on a party political campaign they take their holidays. During the last election some of my staff worked on in the Department while others took their annual leave. It is a clear procedure and has been there for a long time. It works well and I do not think there is any room for any abuse in that. If somebody takes their annual leave, what they do during that time is not a matter for any of us. They could be down saving the hay or canvassing. That is not a matter for us.
Saving the day?
Saving the hay.
Waiting for the hens to lay.
Public Private Partnerships.
Enda Kenny
Question:8 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach when the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnership will next meet; the number of meetings of the team planned for the remainder of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28193/06]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:9 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28245/06]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:10 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the number of meetings scheduled for the interdepartmental group on housing, infrastructure and public-private partnerships for the remainder of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28318/06]
Joe Higgins
Question:11 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the progress made by the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29218/06]
Trevor Sargent
Question:12 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach when the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnerships last met; when its next meeting is scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30661/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together.
The cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs last met yesterday. The items on the agenda were Transport 21, broadband and the new National Development Plan 2007-2013.
The team is scheduled to meet next on 8 November 2006. It has one further meeting planned for the remainder of this year.
The team's role is to assist in progressing and resolving issues related to infrastructure planning and delivery. The team plays a valuable role in identifying appropriate issues to be addressed and ensuring that they are adequately prepared for consideration by the Cabinet committee and, where necessary, by Government.
Such cross-departmental co-ordination has helped to improve significantly the capacity for the delivery of national infrastructure, especially in terms of time and cost.
Lead responsibility remains with the relevant Minister and Department in respect of each individual infrastructure project.
The Taoiseach made a passing reference to the national development plan. How much of the focus of this committee is on getting projects moving that are chartered out at the moment? How much of it is in preparation for the new national development plan to 2013? Has the situation with regard to Cork Airport been clarified? As the Minister, Deputy Martin, knows, there is a major issue about the overhang debt at Cork Airport.
Can the Taoiseach tell us if Dublin Airport has been the subject of any recent meetings of the cross-departmental team? In regard to over-runs in public contracts and public contracts coming in late, to what extent, in his assessment at this stage, have we learned from the lessons of the past and to what extent is that phenomenon under control?
This particular team is not dealing with the Cork Airport issue but it is being dealt with elsewhere. That matter is close to being resolved. If not formally resolved, the parameters of a resolution have been worked out on the structures for the airport so the matter should soon be wrapped up by the various boards. The team worked very effectively during the last few years. Originally we did not have cross-departmental structures but because of the size and scale of the projects the team has worked well. Deputy Rabbitte is correct in saying that most of its work is in ensuring that ongoing capital projects are dealt with efficiently and move through the system. It has done a good job during the past five years. Much of the effort between the various organisations, the National Roads Authority, local authorities and various other bodies, is due to the work done by this group of civil servants across the Departments. Because of the significant changes in design and build, the cost estimation and the new procurement arrangements, most of the major contracts come in under time and under budget. Of the recent contracts, the Naas Road contract came in on budget, but nearly all the others came in under budget and under time, with a significant number of months being knocked off the contract time. There is always the danger that difficulties will arise in complex areas such as the Dublin Port tunnel. Given that we have never built a tunnel of that magnitude it has been necessary to carry out various checks and many additional safety issues have arisen. Almost all the other projects have got on top of their estimations, timescales and planning. This team began its work in 1999, and since the start of 2000, 63 major projects have been finished, 25 are under construction this year and a large number of contracts are at various stages of planning for the next decade. In fairness to this particular group, it has done a very good job on major infrastructural projects.
On the Taoiseach's reference to the experience of Dublin Port tunnel, is it settled Government policy that the metro will go to the airport? Given the experience we have had with the tunnel and all the safety and other issues that have delayed it and everything that has surrounded it, is the Government settled in the conviction that a metro is the correct way to go as distinct from some form of surface connection to the airport?
General questions are all right under these questions. This specific question should be directed to the Minister for Transport.
It is in Transport 21 so it is listed.
So it is settled is the answer.
Will the interdepartmental group or cross-departmental team in its forthcoming meetings address the issue of the restoration of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as instituted in 2000 on the passage of that legislation given that housing is one of the key areas? I note with some concern that the questions posed invariably here do not reflect that housing is one of the three central pillars of responsibility of this interdepartmental group. I am anxious to establish if the Taoiseach envisages address of the restoration of Part V of that Act at future meetings of this team.
That is a question for the Minister.
Does the team look at infrastructural development on an all island basis? Is its consideration confined only to developments within the State or is it taking the wider view and recognising the importance of cross-Border co-operation in infrastructural development particularly but not solely with the beneficial effect in relation to the Border counties? Will the Taoiseach indicate if that is something the team addresses and what progress, if any, he is aware of as a result of those deliberations? For instance, is there somebody within the team who has a specific remit to examine the role of the team in relation to its impact on all Ireland matters, not only infrastructural but under the other areas of responsibility? Can the Taoiseach advise whether telecommunications infrastructure comes under the remit of the team and what attention it has given to the importance of the roll out State-wide of broadband? Currently its absence in vast swathes of the 26 counties of our country is an impediment to real progress on those areas reaching their natural potential.
On the North-South issues, a sub-group of the cross-departmental team has been examining existing and potential areas of co-operation. Until now it has been mainly on roads, road development and road infrastructure. As the Deputy is aware it has done quite a good job on the Dublin-Belfast Road and the Ballymascanlon-Newry project is well under way. There is also a high level of North-South co-operation on infrastructural initiatives. In the energy area, the energy regulators, North and South, are working together on the creation of an all island energy market which is a big and significant project. On the roads, as I have mentioned, there is the Newry-Dundalk link but improvements are under way and are well advanced in planning on the N2 and N3 which have a cross-Border dimension. On waste, there are 32 local authorities in the South and 26 district councils in the North participating in an all island recycling scheme which was declared the winner of the UK national recycling awards in its category. There has also been an all island approach to a successful project for the disposal of waste fridges and freezers. These are examples of where there is much co-operation. There are many other issues on which there is co-operation in various Departments but I would not be aware of them all.
On the issue of broadband, we came from a slow start as there were difficulties after the Eircom issues but substantial progress is being made. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a major issue for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by ComReg, the independent regulator. It was clear for some time that the private sector had failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband. The recent broadband programme addressed that issue. There are 120 towns and cities nationwide in the metropolitan areas network. Phase 1 of that programme, into which we have invested more than €80 million, has delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns. The second stage of that MANs programme is well under way. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has also given assistance to group and community broadband schemes and the projects cover approximately 575 communities with a combined population of 400,000. By next year broadband penetration throughout the country will be in excess of 90%. I admit we started slowly, but we are growing faster than anywhere else and the figures for last year and this year are impressive. There will obviously be small areas left that must be dealt with and the Minister is concentrating on these. Penetration is successful and broadband take-up is very good.
Everything is all right. That is always the Taoiseach's answer.
I have three questions and will try not to repeat those asked by others. Has the group had climate change on its agenda? One third of the built environment, including houses, hospitals and schools, areas that would be on the agenda, contributes to greenhouse gases which are an issue that must be tackled. Given the critical importance in getting it right when it comes to facing up to that challenge, has the group had any input into the climate change review? I do not know whether the Taoiseach has had the chance to see the film "An Inconvenient Truth", but perhaps he should bring the group to see it.
The Deputy is going outside the scope of these questions and should address his questions to the line Minister.
I appreciate that and will stay on the point, but what I have said is still relevant. A meeting was held in May to discuss airports. Have cost-benefit analyses been carried out or will they be a requirement for projects being carried out at airports or for any work contemplated? There is no cost-benefit analysis on the runway plan at Dublin Airport. Is that in line with Government policy?
On the issue of broadband, we are currently 14th out of the EU 15 with regard to provision. The Taoiseach mentioned in his reply that we live with a liberalised market. Does he believe that as Eircom owns the golden mile, the monopoly——
That is a question for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
I want to ask the Taoiseach if he means what he says——
We cannot go all over the place on these questions. They are specific.
——because I do not believe it is a liberalised market. Eircom has a monopoly in that regard.
I will not go into the general issues. The new owners of Eircom are anxious and determined to deal with and get on top of the broadband and other issues. I wish them well on that.
On energy policy issues, in recent months the team has considered these and wider energy issues. Its discussions focused mainly on the issues of climate change, energy issues, particularly the overall policy direction to be given to the Environmental Protection Agency, and on preparing a second national allocation plan for the emission trading system. The team spent some time on this and its deliberations have helped to prepare the way for careful consideration of the necessary balance between environmental protection and the protection of overall competitiveness. They also helped inform Government on overall policy of the EPA and covered the features that should be included in it. The team has, therefore, played a major part. The Green Paper on Energy, which we presented last week, brings these issues together in a single document for the first time in 20 years.
What targets does the Taoiseach set for this team? Each year the Minister for Finance produces the public-private partnership target and announces how much money will be spent and at the end of the year we see how much has actually been spent. From memory, I would say the Government achieves approximately 20% of its target each year and therefore fails to the extent of 80%. How does the team explain away this consistent failure to achieve its central reason for its existence, namely, to co-ordinate work to deliver these targets?
Each year when we read the National Competitiveness Council's annual report, we see we are bottom of the league on port infrastructure, broadband infrastructure and in a host of other key infrastructural areas. What sort of score sheet does this team from the Taoiseach's Department keep to inform him as to how we rate compared to our competitors in these areas? If this sort of team is to have any sense, it must take a broad view and give the Taoiseach a picture of where we stand. Does it work to a score sheet or to a performance in terms of PPP delivery or does it simply just get on with the usual drudgery of its work and never report on these sorts of high level achievements?
A cross-departmental team of all key Departments, not just a group in my Department, looks at the competitiveness report. It takes the report into account and probably feels satisfied when it sees all the areas in which we are top or in the first three or four. There are some areas, and I have mentioned ——
Infrastructural areas would be number one.
The reason we are not high in some infrastructural areas is that until approximately a decade ago what we spent in this country on infrastructure was pathetically low. We did not have the money because we were spending our money on the national debt.
Therefore, the team's pride has nothing to do with delivering infrastructure, but with a broader national pride.
I would not like to think that people across Departments, who are trying to see road, waste and other infrastructural projects go through, would spend their time either looking at EU reports or statistical analyses of an academic exercise that is useless to the people. What they are trying to do is to ensure the removal of any administrative, structural or other blocks in the system in order to allow us spend the money now available to have better procurement and cost systems. They are succeeding in doing that and that is the reason this country now has a capital programme that is higher pro rata than anywhere else in Europe. It is delivering on that programme. Despite all the difficulties and problems of planning and other issues, the group does a good job. It has brought together the roads investment programme which has completed 65 projects, has 25 under way and from 40 to 50 coming through. The group has worked across the agencies to do this and has done the same in areas such as energy, broadband, regional airports and housing programmes.
The team would be conscious of shortfalls and of where we are not achieving targets. It spent some time this year on the third level education sector trying to get co-ordination and co-operation in the sector to obtain better use of the research and development budget. Where it sees deficiencies, it works with the stakeholders to try to achieve better delivery. In fairness, the team has made a significant difference compared to the old way a Department tended to go ahead with a project without any connectivity.
I remember being at a meeting on transport some years ago in which senior people from the NRA, the RPA, CIE and other groups were involved. It was clear that even though they were all involved in transport, they had never met, did not know each other and had never sat down together to have a meeting on integrated transport. We have moved a long way from that. On whether the situation is ideal, nothing is ever perfect, but significant improvements have been made. The reason things did not work so well in the past is because there was no connectivity between the various bodies. In recent years the system is working well across Departments. There is always room for improvement, but cost estimation, planning and structures within Departments are far better than ever.
Does the Taoiseach agree that dismissing as idle statistical exercises analyses of why our roads or housing programmes have not met our targets ——
That is an area for the line Minister and not really a question for the Taoiseach.
It is relevant.
This may be relevant, Deputy, but it is not a question.
It is a question. This cross-departmental committee deals with infrastructure. We are entitled to ask why there is failure in every one of these areas.
The Chair has ruled on many occasions. The Deputy is not entitled to ask that as it does not arise out of these questions.
It arises directly.
The Chair has ruled on many occasions, as have my predecessors, that questions to line Ministers should be directed to line Ministers and not to the Taoiseach.
Arising directly out of the Taoiseach's reply, he says there is now greater co-ordination within the transport companies. Did he read the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on integrated ticketing where it is precisely the failure and obstruction by companies——
Again, Deputy——
It was the Taoiseach who raised this matter. If the Taoiseach is in order to set this out, we are surely entitled to ask about the reply he has given.
This is a most bizarre ruling from the Chair if the Taoiseach is allowed say things and we cannot question him about them.
The Deputy is entitled to his opinion but the ruling is in line with all my predecessors.
The Chair should be consistent.
I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis. However I am not allowed discuss it. The Deputy has argued that these projects are not moving well——
I said they are not achieving their targets.
Please allow the Taoiseach to reply as the time is almost concluded.
I refer the Deputy to the Fermoy bypass which was opened the other day and is only one of approximately 20 this year. It was completed seven months ahead of schedule and is under budget.
It is an outstanding project.
I accept there were difficulties in the past.
The Taoiseach is deliberately misinterpreting the question I asked.
It might well be better if the Deputy directed his questions to the line Minister.
The question I asked is with regard to our roads programme. By the end of the period of the roads programme, scarcely two thirds of the roads will have been built.
It would be better if the Deputy directed his question to the line Minister.
By the end of this decade, the targets will be achieved for the Cork, Limerick and Galway roads. I acknowledge the Waterford road may be behind. The bus capacity and the rail targets are way ahead. They are not way behind. It shows a negative attitude to concentrate on one among many projects. Huge progress is being made in this area. I acknowledge that difficulties exist in some areas, such as in the area of broadband. However, they are catching up and should be encouraged.
We should aim to motivate the entire system instead of trying to find another report to show we are lower down in the list. This is a very negative attitude which kept us where we were since the 1920s. Our attitude was that this country could never do things. If one has that negative attitude to life, one will always believe everything is a failure.
I would respond but my question would be ruled out of order.
The answers are not in order anyway.
I ask Deputy Rabbitte to be brief as we are running out of time.
Nobody would ever accuse the Taoiseach of not having a positive approach to life.
I thank the Deputy.
Is this cross-departmental team strictly a co-ordinating team or has it any interaction with outside relevant bodies, even public sector organisations? Is there any structured role or involvement of the National Development Finance Agency and how does this knit into the work of this committee?
I refer to the Taoiseach's reply to the same question on 27 June 2006. A large part of his response was taken up with the refurbishment of the M50 which he stated will take between three and four years. Will the Taoiseach give any indication in respect of the particular matter where he says, almost unbelievably for the lay person, that it will take between three and four years to put in barrier-free tolling of the kind that one sees elsewhere in member states of the Union?
That question is for a line Minister.
I am not going down that road, Ceann Comhairle.
Will the Taoiseach say if this is the case? It beggars belief as to the reason it should be the case because there is no constraint on the availability of this technology, as I understand it. If that is the case and if we are going to have to put up with between three and four years of torture while motorists are log jammed on the M50 during the period of refurbishment——
The Deputy has made his point. We are out of time.
I am not making a point. I am trying to ask a question. The Ceann Comhairle is intervening all day to reduce question time. I was just about to finish my question.
I want to allow Deputy Durkan to ask a question.
I do not care who the Ceann Comhairle wants to bring in. I want to ask my question.
I ask the Taoiseach if that is the situation is there any reason the State cannot throw open the toll bridge for the period of the refurbishment——
That does not arise on these questions. It is a matter for the line Minister.
——in a negotiated arrangement with the toll operators? Why can we not do that much?
Before the Taoiseach answers the question, I will take a brief question from Deputy Durkan who has been waiting patiently.
It is not a related matter but the Taoiseach may be able to inform the House whether this interdepartmental group discussed the cessation of the beet growing industry and its possible replacement by an indigenous alternative fuel industry and if it did——
It is not a brief question. I call the Taoiseach for a final reply.
If this cross-departmental group were meeting and talking together and co-ordinating their efforts, what was its recommendation in the aftermath of the cessation of the beet growing industry?
The Deputy has made his point. I call the Taoiseach for a final reply.
To be helpful to Deputy Durkan, this group is not dealing with this matter. However, a ministerial group dealing with energy is working on the biofuel, biomass and bioenergy issues.
In answer to Deputy Rabbitte's question on the M50, there will be three or four phases. I have attended meetings on this issue. Work has commenced on phase one. Phase two is to be a public private partnership project and will start at Easter time, I believe. Phase three consists of a short link of 3.2 km on the plaza end of the West Link. It is estimated this work will take about two years and should be finished in 2008. I understand there are five or six global companies who can undertake the barrier-free tolling initiative and discussions have commenced with these companies. It is the view that all the projects must be undertaken together. More chaos will be created if the barrier is removed in isolation. The N3, N4 and N7 routes will need to be done at the same time. It is projected there will be barrier-free tolling in two years' time, in the third quarter of 2008. It is based on all the work on the M50 being completed within a four year period which is 2010. The barrier-free element of the project will be introduced in 2008. Any opening in the intervening time, considering the ongoing road works, would only create more difficulties. It might seem the easy solution, but it is not so. There should be a significant improvement in the two-year period but it is a four-year contract for the whole project consisting of four phases.