Dempsey puts his faith in ‘Anglo on tarmac’

LATELY, when asked to justify the extraordinary high cost and necessity of Ireland’s network of motorways, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said they would be “a lasting legacy for the next 50 to 100 years”.

If such ridiculous claims are the prevailing wisdom in the Department of Transport, we are all in for massive energy and mobility shocks in the years ahead. Does he and others behind these grandiose tarmac plans realise we are now playing a dangerous endgame as regards future oil supplies and higher energy costs?

Do they understand the meaning of the words “finite”, “non-renewable” or “fixed quantity”. Apparently not.