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Let China build our rail infrastructure

The State is not capable of providing major infrastructure cost efficiently

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Tue Aug 20 2024 - 00:12

Sir, – David McWilliams’s article is worthy of serious consideration by the incoming government (“We get electronics and cars from China, so why not let them build our trainlines?”, Weekend, August 17th). He provides the example of Serbia, which managed to roll out hundreds of kilometres of high-speed railways, with new trains travelling over 200km/h, by outsourcing the project to China.

In my 30 years in the Oireachtas and 15 years in various government departments, the lack of money was the main constraint to development, both current and capital. It made meaningful long-term planning impossible.

The one exception was when Bertie Ahern and Charlie McCreevy brought in the Spaniards and the Turks to joint venture with Irish companies to build our motorways. Yes, there were some problems in complying with Irish standards, but nothing that was not overcome.

Now that our fiscal and financial outlook has vastly improved, especially for major capital investment, we have reached an impasse with bureaucracy and a farcical planning system in the provision of infrastructure.

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As the children’s hospital debacle has demonstrated, the State is not capable of providing major infrastructure cost efficiently and effectively.

As David McWilliams has pointed out, the Department of Transport’s All-Island Strategic Rail Review, aiming to “revitalise and expand the system significantly by 2050″, will take far too long, 25 years, and at an estimated €37 billion.

Under our present bureaucratic planning system, not to mention our inability to design and construct major infrastructure, such a plan is impossible to implement.

David McWilliams is correct: we need the best expertise in design, project planning and construction, in the world, in railway engineering at the most cost-efficient and competitive rates. In this sector, it is difficult to beat the Chinese.

I’m not suggesting we cut corners in proper planning, or adhering to environmental or ecological regulations. That is a given.

While the are some officials in government departments who see Chinese involvement as an affront to our US interests, that is a smokescreen.

We enjoy good relations with China. as epitomised by Tanaiste Micheál Martin’s visit to China at the end of 2023 and our continuing trade delegations. In fact, Ireland can continue to play an important role in fostering US-China relationships, which are so critical to the world order.

Iarnród Éireann has a great history in railway engineering and has highly talented and experienced people in the engineering and construction area. There are a number of successful Irish railway engineering companies in the UK.

Let’s examine the potential of joint ventures with China or other countries that have the experience of planning and building high-speed railways within time and on budget.

I would hope Fianna Fáil would consider this concept as part of our policy on major infrastructure projects for the forthcoming general election.

Not for the first time, David McWilliams has his finger on the pulse! – Yours, etc,

FRANK FAHEY,

Galway.

A chara, – If we were to pursue an infrastructure policy as espoused by David McWilliams, we should also, in turn, expect the political baggage that comes with that bedfellow. Would signing a joint letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council, as Serbia did, defending China’s persecution of Uighurs be an acceptable price to pay? Or indeed the rolling contract to purchase from China, as Serbia agreed, armed drones, precision-guided air-to-surface missiles and air-defence missile systems?

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. – Yours, etc,

EMMETT McNAMARA,

Furbo,

Galway.