Fine Gael is very concerned about Dublin traffic and the working hours wasted by commuters. At the launch of its policy document on zero delay last month, it promised that Dublin members would highlight the problem by abandoning their cars and travelling to Leinster House by alternative means on a designated day - Tuesday week, March 24th.
Although extremely nervous, as she hadn't been on a bicycle since she was a child, the traffic spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell is to take to her peddles for the long and hazardous journey from Sandyford. The party leader's brother Richard Bruton will run from Clontarf - but then he jogs every morning. Austin Currie will take the bus on the quality corridor from Lucan; Nora Owen and Michael Joe Cosgrave will travel by train and DART from Malahide and Baldoyle; the Mitchell brothers, Jim and Gay will cycle to Leinster House from Terenure on a tandem; Senator Therese Ridge will take the bus from Clondalkin; Senator Maurice Manning will walk from Haddington Road and young Brian Hayes is being persuaded to ride a moped from Tallaght.
The cushiest number goes to Sean Barrett and his neighbours. He has drawn the car pool and on his way in from Killiney will pick up Monica Barnes in Glenageary and Senators Liam Cosgrave in Blackrock and Joe Doyle in Donnybrook.
After the journey, the group will meet for a 9 a.m. breakfast and compare experiences. They then hope to persuade commuters that there are other ways to travel to the city centre than by single occupancy car.