Seanad report:CIÉ is being authorised to borrow up to €600 million - almost twice the present limit. Transport Minister of State Ivor Callely said the current limit of €317 million had been in place for over 20 years.
The increase in the limit would facilitate the speedier progression and management of projects by ensuring that there should be adequate cash flow facilities available to the CIÉ group of companies.
"I think we are all enthusiastic about the role that CIÉ will play in the new 10-year transport framework that we have rolled out under Transport 21, where CIÉ will play a fundamental part in the development of our transport network."
He was determined that CIÉ and its companies would play a pivotal role in terms of the new plan and that they would be "given all the necessary tools to ensure that they would be able to match our very ambitious plans for CIÉ and that there would be no excuse in place where they would be capped in any form or fashion".
Welcoming the amendment to the Railway Safety Bill, 2001, to facilitate additional borrowing by CIÉ, Martin Mansergh (FF) said it was an illustration in the Bill that the Government was absolutely serious about the Transport 21 programme which would require a large amount of investment.
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The growing problem of the striking of rail bridges by road vehicles was a cause of deep concern, Mr Callely said when he introduced an amendment to the Railway Safety Bill to make it an offence for drivers to disregard traffic signs indicating bridge heights.
Conviction under the new section carries a maximum fine of €50,000 or a prison term of up to three years, or both.
A second amendment, which was also agreed, provides for fines of up to €1,000 for failure without reasonable excuse to report a strike.
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David Norris (Ind) called on the Government to protest in the name of humanity to the United States authority over their resort to chemical warfare in Iraq.
The Americans had admitted the use of Napalm and white phosphorus in the bombing of cities like Fallujah, he said. These very serious international war crimes had previously been denied by the US.
"The operation is called Shake and Bake. That is an extraordinary way to describe the fate of human beings, including civilians."
Mary Henry (Ind) said the Government should protest immediately about the use of white phosphorus in Iraq.
Joe O'Toole (Ind) said that if any country apart from the US had used the weaponry they now knew had been used by the US army, there would be an outcry from Washington.
"I really think it's appalling," he said.
The leader of the House, Mary O'Rourke, said the US admission had been made in a breezy or cavalier manner.
"It's quite amazing when we all know the damage that chemicals can do to people, and they have used them in the bombing of Fallujah. Shake and Bake - I ask you. Just imagine talking about people in that fashion."