10. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the proposed new Garda station at Northern Cross in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27621/26]

Sentiment score: 0.01

Is there an update on the provision of a much-needed new Garda station at Northern Cross in Dublin?

Sentiment score: 0.00

It is welcome that we are making some progress in that there is a commitment that construction will start in 2028. Is the Minister of State confident that timeline will be adhered to? If construction begins in 2028, what is the timeline for finishing? I am concerned that we are still talking about identifying a suitable site for this new Garda station when it was announced not by the last Government, but by the Government before it in 2019, and when a site had been identified for it at that time. I do not really understand that part of it because a site was identified and even announced seven years ago. Why are we still talking about identifying a suitable site when one was identified seven years ago? Is the Minister of State confident that construction will start in 2028?

Sentiment score: 0.26

I welcome his work on this, his commitment to it and his interest in it. That is very welcome. It is also welcome that genuine attempts to move this on are now being made. The Minister of State is right that this is a growing community with a huge population. That community was bitterly disappointed that this was announced in 2019 and that nothing then happened for seven years. The fact that we have the date of 2028 is positive, as is the fact that the Minister of State is engaging with the Department of justice on it. I welcome that. However, I urge that we all collectively keep at this and get this much-needed new Garda station delivered. The area needs other facilities and community infrastructure as well but this is a key component of it.

Sentiment score: 0.33

13. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to outline the statutory safeguards, oversight mechanisms and independent review processes that will be put in place to ensure that the significant powers assigned to him under the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 are exercised in a transparent, proportionate and accountable manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27624/26]

Sentiment score: 0.19

On the Critical Infrastructure Bill, it is good that there is a focus on trying to speed up these processes. We have heard from the Minister with responsibility for the OPW that it takes about ten years to deliver a Garda station. That is just one of many examples of how slow these processes are. It is not just about legislation, though. The Bill would give the Minister significant powers in terms of designation. What safeguards, oversight mechanisms or process would be in place to ensure that those significant powers the Minister is assigning to himself will be exercised in a transparent, proportionate and accountable manner?

Sentiment score: 0.18

I accept there is no mystery about these projects. They are all good projects. I cannot see why anyone would want to bring a motion to the Dáil to annul prioritisation of any of the projects under consideration. That is not really the issue. The issue is the bit of mystery about how the prioritisation will be carried out. What will and will not be prioritised? How will that be decided? That is the bit the Minister and the Cabinet will have information on but the Dáil, Oireachtas and public will not. That is the missing part. How will prioritisation be carried out? Where is the transparency in that regard? The Bill is silent on this. It gives the power to the Minister, subject to Cabinet approval and laid before the Oireachtas but there is no information about how that decision will be made. It does not work if everything worthwhile is prioritised. Decisions have to be made. I accept that but we will be in the dark as to why one good project was prioritised and another was not. If there is no transparency around this, it will lead to a situation where people will question why one project was picked over another important project.

Sentiment score: 0.06

The point I always make about legislation is that it has to be drafted not just for this Government but the governments that come after. It has to be drafted for Ministers who will take these responsibilities in the absolute public interest but also for Ministers who may not do that. My concern is having that concentration of power without information around the process. If we have information as to how the decisions will be made on each project, at least we will be able to understand the rationale as to why a certain project was prioritised and another was not. Without that information provided to the Oireachtas, the Dáil and the public, it will lead to people questioning why a project in Cork, for example, was prioritised but one in Galway was not. It will create a problem. If people see how and why the decision was made, it provides a bit of protection to both the Minister and the Government, as well as proper accountability and transparency. We will obviously look at this on Committee Stage but I ask the Minister to consider what I am putting forward.

Sentiment score: 0.07