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DYING FOR AN update on the Cork-Limerick motorway?
Sick of queuing each evening at a congested M50 junction as you wonder ‘what’s being done to get this thing moving again’?
Wondering why the nation’s truck-drivers seem to insist on steering head-on, under rail bridges to small to fit them?
Barry Kenny of Irish Rail and Sean O’Neill of the National Roads Authority dropped by TheJournal.ie’s offices this afternoon to take part in our semi-regular ‘ask the expert’ slot.
It made for an interesting Q & A session.
For instance, we talked to Kenny about:
Next up in the hotseat, we put readers’ questions about the following to O’Neill…
If you don’t have time to watch the whole thing right now – TheJournal.ie‘s Cliodhna Russell live-blogged the whole session, as it happened…
Barry is explaining how a truck driver hit a bridge at Bath Avenue today and drove off. He says these incidents are always followed up.
Speaking about vandalism at Dart stations- he says communities are becoming more active to stop anti-social behaviour.
Kenny says the new intercity plan to link Dublin airport with the rest of the country can happen within four years from approval to trains running.
Kenny explained that some toilets at train stations had to be closed due to vandalism but added that most services have toilets onboard.
Kenny said the decision is made by National Transport Authority. Daragh added it can be frustrating for people who can be charged more if they live just over the line.
Our reporter Paul Hosford asked why St Patrick’s Day worked on a Sunday service when it was so busy? Kenny said it wasn’t just a flat Sunday service and there were extra trains at certain times.
When asked about packed commuter services, Kenny said DART travel and commuter travel always involve a heavy amount of standing at peak times. Sounds like that’s just the way it is!
Kenny said the technological systems are being changed so information will be up on the screens for booked tickets when people board a train.
Kenny said a lot of people do start work at 10am and that those trains also bring in a lot of students to Maynooth.
Kenny was asked if Irish Rail knew what ‘punctuality’ meant as it uses it A LOT (Daragh didn’t ask that btw). Kenny said that yes it did.
The Irish Rail twitter account is now being discussed. Kenny said,
It’s very good for getting information out to customers.
He added that the twitter account can’t respond to all tweets being sent but that it is being monitored and overall he thinks it’s helpful.
Kenny finally added that Irish Rail is always happy to hear about positive journeys and experiences.
Sean O’Neill from the National Transport Authority is up next – he will be taking your questions in a few short minutes.
He said a part of that is because of the improved economy and more people heading to work.
He asked readers to check out the M50 Demand Management Study.
There had to be a huge scaling back and it’s frozen until more funding is available.
The Cork to Limerick connector also has ‘no funding’. He says he realises it’s an important piece of infrastructure but for now it’s ‘as is’.
Hopefully the M20 will come back on track.
Why is there no Junction 8 on the M50? “Well basically is was part of a plan that it was going to be a road to bring you out to Naas but the zoning of the area changed and now it could never go back.”
Talking about crashes, O’Neill said, “Let the emergency services do their job.” He added that drivers are not helping anyone by trying to eyeball it and see what is going on.
One readers said, ‘Too many roads have potholes and no cats eyes’. O’Neill said it’s because of budget cuts.
Ehhhh…. They’re tomato plants in the image….
Seems to be a small Indica peeping through though….
cannabis is scientifically proven not to be addictive, not a gateway drug, doesn’t kill anyone. A plant green from Mother Earth with medicinal qualities. Why are we still wasting Garda time and resources on anything got to do with cannabis!
Ok I see nothing wrong with smoking it but cannibis has been proven to be addictive just like any drug like alcohol, nicotine, codeine etc. saying otherwise is just wrong….anyway the journal is fu**ed up to be honest. Go to an article about ecigs been smoked anywhere and the majority of people r against it( for health reasons) but an article about weed and it’s like what’s the problem,
Cian there is actually an article here somewhere about the pros of e cigs. And Cannabis is not really addictive especially when compared to cigarettes, booze or other drugs. People don’t have withdrawals from cannabis, they can be a little annoyed for a few minutes if they can’t get it but they can get over that as opposed to drugs which actually cause physical withdrawal. Like the shakes with booze. People have just been trained to believe alcohol isn’t dangerous, I doubt most people who drink recognize that in drinking any amount of alcohol you are actually causing blood poisoning and that a hangover is due to excessive blood poisoning because while cannabis is a plant alcohol is actually poison.
But I better add, I have nothing against anyone who chooses to drink. Especially people who choose to drink responsibility. People who drink too much and cause issues to others or themselves well they have the CHOICE at least. I believe that with all the positive research on cannabis people who choose to use it deserve to not be criminals no more than drinking.
Cian, anything pleasurable can be addictive such as:
gambling, sex, cakes, exercise.
People can get addicted to all of these due to their own personal issues, banning the symptom of people’s problems does not solve the problem. It just criminalises everyone else who enjoys these relatively harmless (in moderation) pursuits.
It’s not fair, all this beautiful weed is going to be destroyed for no purpose! Makes me furious
You should turn up at the Garda auctions grab your self a deal lol
A waste of garda time, a waste of tax payers money and most importantly a waste of good weed. Anyway, nicely baked here on the east side, peace! :)
oh .. just legalise it and tax it.. let a bunch of stoners cover me property tax..
More weed please not less
It’s not the weed that should be destroyed. …
The world is a safer place! Not…
Wish it was mine alll mine Muhuhahaha
Unless I’m very wrong this is a tomato plant!!! Jaysus I’m in big trouble!!!
Tomatoes are the scurge of the narcotics world
started on tomatoes when i was 12, by the age of 15 i was injecting 5 tomatoes a day and prostituting myself for money.
Jesus man dude, we all know you were a cannabis fiend back in the day http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/06/science.religion
Four men arrested for owning a type of plant.
Guys if you feel strongly about this sign and share….even use a fake name if u need to….come on let’s do this lets be heard for once let’s make a change
https://www.change.org/p/the-irish-government-put-the-cannabis-bill-to-a-public-vote
I didn’t set it up
I’d also encourage people to join NORML Ireland, who will be working on many campaigns throughout the year in the hope of reforming the laws surrounding cannabis, get involved and let’s make things happen!!
Thats a lot of weed!!!!!!
Good result.
What is good about it?
Some peoples lives ruined for growing relatively harmless plants.
What else is the result of this seizure?
John dope no doubt ur a crusty
And you clearly don’t have the brains to make a rational argument.
Is that not lots of tomatoes plants surrounding one herb plant???
Pronounced a can of piss cannabis
Gardaí said that, “Drug seizures play a critical role in targeting the livelihood of criminals and reducing their ability to carry out illegal activities.”
The public says ‘Current drug policies play a critical role in targeting people and increasing their ability to carry out illegal activities.’
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Go water your plants there john good boy.
200.000 = 5 plants X-)
have your say