Narrow Water Bridge funding
Gerry Adams presses for Government support to revive the Narrow Water Bridge. The Taoiseach says the obstacle was the gap between the tender and available funding, but supports resubmission and expects discussion at the North-South Ministerial Council.
I ask the Taoiseach about the Government's position on the Narrow Water Bridge project. I understand he has said he is now committed to ensuring the project will go ahead to the next round of European Union funding. I have raised this issue with the Taoiseach many times. The project did not go ahead because of the Government's failure to provide the financial investment needed to supplement the funding from local councils and the European Union.
The Taoiseach will be aware that this has the support of all of the parties in Louth, south Down and south Armagh and that the North-South Ministerial Council of last November stated its unanimous support for this worthy project. Perhaps the Taoiseach would update the House on this matter.
Last July, the Taoiseach told me, and more important, the Dáil, that the Walsh report on symphysiotomy would be published soon. Almost a year later, there is still no sign of it. Last November, the Taoiseach appointed Judge Murphy to examine the issue of symphysiotomy and bring closure to the many women who have suffered this barbaric practice. It should be remembered that most of these women are very elderly. The Walsh report was to be completed within eight weeks. I have previously raised this issue with the Taoiseach on a number of occasions. In his absence prior to Easter I raised it with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, who told me he would come back to me on the matter. I then received a note saying that an update would be provided but none has been received. More important, no one, least of all the victims, is any the wiser. When will the Murphy report and, separately, the Walsh report into this cruel and totally unacceptable, sinister and evil practice of symphysiotomy be published?
Comment on this
Deputy Adams knows that the reason Narrow Water Bridge did not proceed is not because the Government did not put up the funds but because of the scale of the difference between the tender and moneys provided under the Special EU Programmes Body, SEUPB and Newry, Mourne and Louth councils. As previously stated, I support this proposal and would like to keep it alive. The issue will be the subject of discussion at the June meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. I understand that the SEUPB programme is being redrafted and that it is expected the Narrow Water Bridge proposal will be resubmitted. I cannot confirm to the Deputy whether the same proposal will be resubmitted. Suffice it to say that I would like to see this happen and will support it. Obviously, the moneys previously available under the SEUPB were diverted to the rail line and a number of other issues.
On the symphysiotomy report, Judge Murphy commenced her work in December last, which she estimated would take approximately eight weeks to complete and following which she would provide the Minister with a report and recommendations on the next step. The Minister has received that report but has yet to bring it before Government. Following this, the Government will make its decision on the next steps to be taken. This is an issue that has been around for a long time and needs to be dealt with quickly. Obviously, the survivors have had a very difficult time. I will come back to the Deputy on publication of the Walsh report.