Only a year ago the Taoiseach said the toll plaza would not be bought out, that the State could not afford it. It would be very useful to have a debate on that U-turn and why it happened. It would also be useful to look at the history of this contract. I will not give …
Monthly Archive
for: ‘January, 2006’
Open the Gates: Westlink toll plaza to be abolished!
I’m delighted that the Government has decided to tackle the Westlink chaos, after a year of pressure from the Westlink Action Group. But plenty of problems remain. We need the barriers to be raised at peak times, and for buyout plans to be brought forward, so that motorists don’t wait another three years in Westlink …
Noam Chomsky Delivers Annual Amnesty TCD Lecture
Described by The New Yorker as ‘one of the greatest minds of the 20th century’, Noam Chomsky gave the 2006 Amnesty International Lecture in association with TCD in the RDS on January 18th. The theme of his talk was ‘The War on Terror’.
The Problem of Northern Ireland is Developing into a Problem of Crime
In the Seanad, I called for a debate on Northern Ireland. The problem of Northern Ireland is developing into a problem of crime. Out of the recent welcome outbreak of peace has sprung an incredible amount of cross-Border racketeering, money laundering and co-operation among the former criminals who have committed violent acts and who have …
Cartels in the Motor Industry: What is the Competition Authority Doing?
I was a participant in the “Prime Time” programme which was broadcast recently and I was staggered by the evidence of a cartel operating in the car industry. While the price fixing in that industry is bad enough, it has been suspected for a long time. However, the additional operation of a system of enforcement …