A recent editorial in The Irish Times headed "Paying for our Transport Woes" was in all respects a fabrication, the leader of the House, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said. It had said she had pressed ahead on her own on the Luas project, including the underground and Red Cow junction elements.
Ms O'Rourke said that in all the decisions on Luas there had been very enthusiastic backing from the Progressive Democrats. The adviser to the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, had come forward with papers and had constantly come to the relevant department with papers on how the matter should be advanced. It had been advanced as the PDs had wished.
Ms O'Rourke said she knew the import of the editorial and the agenda that was being mapped out through its contents.All the Government decisions were there to be looked at. A Progressive Democrats motion calling for a range of measures to alleviate the severe social and economic problems caused by traffic congestion in Dublin was passed.