INDEPENDENT transport consultants engaged by CIE are assessing whether the light rail, system should be underground in the city centre, according to the Minister of State for Transport, Ms Avril Doyle, introducing the Second Stage of the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) (No 2) Bill, in the Seanad yesterday.
The Bill aims to provide the necessary statutory powers to construct, maintain and operate a light rail system in Dublin.
The Minister said the Bill did, not end the debate on light rail, or on which routes should be implemented first, or whether to restrict the number of lines that could be built, and it did not preclude and underground option.
She said informal discussion was likely to continue until September when CIE could make an application to the Minister for Transport. There would then be six weeks to make formal submissions to the Minister. This would be followed by a full public inquiry.
"In some cases, individuals have real fears about how the light rail will affect them," Ms Doyle said. "I want to assure them that these questions and concerns are being addressed. Where communities have sought changes in routes these are being considered and alternatives drawn up and published. This process of consultation will continue for some months and no decision will be taken on routes until it is completed. Even then, there will be a public inquiry and the opportunity for any interested party to make submissions directly to the Minister."
The public inquiry would be mandatory into all aspects of the light rail proposal, said Ms Doyle.
Senator David Norris (Independent) put a price on his vote, for the Bill that it include provision for an underground element and the involvement of private enterprise. He believed, the Government faced defeat even on the Second Stage of this Bill. Every vote would be significant, including his own.
Mr Norris added that if an on street light rail tram system was implemented for Dublin, there would be massive disruption of city centre traffic during the years of construction, and after construction traffic would remain grid locked. The authorities he" said, privately accepted this and its had been repeatedly indicated to" him that one of the principle benefits of the light rail system would be that it would drive the motor car out of Dublin city.
He was astonished at the shifting argument used by those who had an innate prejudice against any form of underground system. The most laughable was that a metro system was impossible because women were afraid of tunnels and there was also concern about the possibility of archaeological disturbance.
This bizarre argument, he said, came from authorities who presided over the drowning of the most important Viking site in Europe under millions of tonnes, of concrete.
Senator G.V. Wright (FE) said if the fuzzy thinking and loose drafting of the Bill was anything to go by, asking Minister Lowry to, produce additional documents was inadvisable. Not to extend the light rail in its first phase to Dublin Airport was ridiculous, he said.
Senator Feargal Quinn (Independent) said there was a lack of openness about the implications of what was proposed. "For instance," he said, the way in which it emerged that a whole row of houses in Arran Quay terrace was to be demolished is nothing short of a scandal."
Mr Quinn said if the Bill was passed in its present form, he could see its constitutionality being challenged by any person who disagreed with the decision the Minister eventually made.
Ms Doyle, said in deference to the points raised she would amend the definition of light rail to include the concept of an underground system. She also indicated that concerns regarding independent assessment and the involvement of private enterprise would be considered.
The Second Stage was passed by 28 votes to 24 with three independent senators, Mr Quinn, Mr Joe O'Toole and Mr Norris voting with the Government. The Committee Stage was fixed for tomorrow. The Seanad adjourned until 10.30 this morning.