Dáil laughs at junior minister's transport claims

A junior transport minister was today accused of over-enthusiasm after he claimed the Government was planning a €16bn package for transport, including a metro system for Dublin.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was forced to defend junior minister Ivor Calley after he said the package would also include the building of a second terminal in Dublin Airport and major investment in new roads.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen also dismissed his colleague’s comments at a Fianna Fáil meeting as guesswork.

There was much laughter on the opposition benches when Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told Mr Ahern in the Dáil: “I notice at a Fianna Fáil meeting, Minister Callely seems to have got a rush of Valentine’s blood to the head.

“He went ahead and announced a full package of €16bn for 10 years for transport including a metro line from Dublin city centre to Dublin Airport, a second terminal, investment in road construction at over €1bn a year, the metro system to run underground to Dublin’s northside… the reopening of rail services into Co Meath at a cost of €156m, a new rail station at Spencer Dock, an underground rail interconnector linking Heuston and Connolly rail stations at the cost of €1bn.

“And what struck me at the end of his contribution, as reported in the papers, Minister Callely said he did not want to pre-empt any announcement of the Minister in having this brought before the Cabinet.”

The Fine Gael leader added: “Could I ask the Taoiseach to comment on Minister Callely’s Valentine’s Day message to everybody? Does the Taoiseach agree with this kind of carry-on?

“Did he hear Minister Cullen say 40 minutes ago that the figures released by Minister Callely are merely guesswork and not based on any facts?”

Mr Ahern confirmed the Government was in the final stages of a 10-year plan looking at all projects across transport.

“That brings into play what Minister of State Callely was talking about, all the proposals that are presented in one form or another,” he said.

“The Government is committed to bringing the 21st century infrastructure within the economy. There is an unparalleled commitment to transport of about €2.1bn in Government support in the sector this year alone.

“Obviously the figure for the 10 years will be an enormous figure but all of these matters will be discussed in the Cabinet committee.

“They will be finalised, it is hoped, in March and then the Minister will formally present them.”

Earlier, during ministerial questions Mr Cullen brushed off criticism of his handling of the metro proposal, insisting he was right to take time over the overall transport package.

“I want to get the best solution, the solution which actually marries all of the different proposals together so that we have not just cherrypicking one sexy sort of metro as the solution to everything,” he said.

“There are huge issues in terms of the interconnectivity with Dublin. There are huge issues in terms of the interconnectivity to the DART, for the lines from Maynooth from Kildare from Drogheda all of those things and they are not simple because there are issues of capacity on the lines that exist, there’s issues of station capacity.

“I want to be satisfied that when I come in and announce these proposals on behalf of the Government, and I am going to be facing you and Deputy Shorthall asking me these kind of questions, I want to make sure what I propose is deliverable. That it is not idealistic.”

Mr Cullen added that he was blessed to have an enthusiastic minister of state.

But in a mild rebuke he added: “Sometimes his commitment overruns his enthusiasm and some of his recent pronouncements to the fourth estate are just guesswork.

“They are not based in any fact but I am sure he will join with me and the Government in supporting our proposals enthusiastically when we actually make them public.”