THERE must be an independent public inquiry into the proposed light rail system for Dublin and the former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, should be called as an expert witness, Mr David Norris (Ind) said.
Describing Dr FitzGerald as a world expert on such issues Mrs Norris quoted extensively from Irish Times articles in which hem challenged the wisdom of proceeding with the planned on street system.
Stressing the need for an independent and fully comprehensive inquiry, Mr Norris said the Transport Minister, Mr Lowry, must cease undermining the outcome of such an examination "by announcing in advance what the results would be as far as he is concerned." Mr Lowry had been consistently talking about the time when an on street system would be built. That showed no respect for an independent inquiry.
The Minister was weak, Mr Norris said. They were dealing, with a rather bullish bureaucracy within the transport hierarchy who were pushing the Minister in a certain direction. It was vital, that he rethink this matter in the light of the kind of information being made available by people such as Dr FitzGerald.
It was claimed that there was a public demand for what the Minister was proposing. "I don't believe that." Claiming that a public relations exercise was under way, Mr Norris said he had been at a dinner on the previous night.
"The Luas people had a table at £150 a skull next to mine." The light rail case had been mounted at enormous cost to the public.