The concept of consultation and accountability is alien to the terms of reference of the National Roads Authority, the Fine Gael spokesman, Mr Charles Flanagan, said.
The authority was an "unelected quango" that had no regard for families and people. "The Government must immediately curtail the sweeping powers of the unaccountable National Roads Authority which allow consultants and so-called experts to ride roughshod over the feelings, views and concerns of thousands of worried families who happen to live on a route between the major cities of this country."
The Government must amend the legislation to ensure a greater level of accountability by the NRA, he said, which should "at the very least" be subjected to the rigours of a Dail committee:
"The practice by the NRA of allowing six or seven different routes to be speculated upon does no more than whip up fear, anxiety and adverse public opinion, setting brother against brother and farmer against farmer in rural parishes throughout the land."
It was unsustainable for politicians both at national and local levels to "wash their hands" of what was happening and cite the fact they had no power to curtail the NRA. The Minister for the Environment and the Government hid conveniently behind the NRA as crucial matters of policy such as "Pay As You Drive" (toll roads) failed to be subject to debate, scrutiny or public consultation of any description.
Not only were the Minister and the Government powerless, they were acting "with no regard" for the needs and wishes of the community.
The Government was committed to "deliver urgently" on the major roads infrastructure identified in the National Development Plan, said Mr Bobby Molloy, Minister of State for Environment. It was also concerned for those who were affected by such developments.