[Thomas J Stamp]

In the end I think what Mark is saying is the more correct view: the polititians dont think up any ideas of themselves, ask any of the previous 10 transport ministers, and the current one, any detailed questions about rail and see what replies you get - that's irrespective of party. Also, the run in times and amendments mean that the average tenure of a trasport minister is too short. That's not to say that when things go belly up, or get just plain stupid (LUAS not meeting up for example) that you cannot hold a minister accountable.

The problem with this debate is that it's like all others regarding politics at the moment. The present government will have been in power for 10 years non stop come the next election. (maybe nine). The rainbow had, what, two years? Before that it was FF from 87. 18 years of govenment. After such a length of time it is very hard for that government to try and escape responsility when something goes wrong or gets stupid (see McDowell on the prison issue last week, looked very stupid indeed) and any of the aul "when the rainbow was in government" stuff is seen by the electorate as irrelevent.

There are a lot of new voters out there since 97 and they dont give a rats arse about what the rainbow did or didnt do in their two years of power, all they know is that they dont think they're living the life they should be.

Last week Labour in the UK got a kick in the backside. The reaction is telling. All Labout has to do to win the next election is to have a makeover, ie, get rid of Tony Blair, bring in Gordon and his "New" team. It is almost the same, it will be argused, as changing the government, only you dont even have to put the nasty tories into power. This is because of all the stupid things and mistakes which are building up around Blair. He takes them with him.

Perhaps Bertie ought to bear that in mind.

What has this got to do with railways? Nothing. Transport 21 will go on, the blueprint is there, it'll be fiddled around with here and there if FG and/or the Greens get into power but it will be fiddled around with here and there if FF stay in power as well.