Such a link is long past due — there can hardly be a significant European city which does not have a direct link between its city centre and the nearest major airport, after all. 

Yet in Dublin the Luas has been in operation for two decades, the Dart far longer, and yet still there is no connection to the airport. 

Tourists and commuters alike must instead use a bus service which can be both overcrowded and unreliable.

Metrolink will help to answer the need to accommodate the rapidly growing population in the Dublin region, but the Government’s avowed aim is to ensure balanced regional growth as well. 

To that end, the announcement made by the three Coalition leaders on Tuesday was particularly interesting, given they pledged €1bn to schemes which include upgrading the A5 transport corridor, construction of a bridge linking the Mourne Mountains with the Cooley Peninsula, a new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast, and €50m towards the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast.

Readers will recognise immediately that some of these are cross-border initiatives, while others are Northern Ireland projects pure and simple.

Co-operating with Northern Ireland is infinitely preferable to the old regime of mistrust, which could edge into outright hostility, while it is also a tribute to the Government’s financial management if it is able to contribute €1bn to projects in Northern Ireland.

However, those same readers are also likely to raise the matter of outstanding infrastructure projects on other parts of the island. 

The A5 transport corridor is a dangerous stretch of road which needs to be improved for the sake of those travelling from Derry to Aughnacloy, but there are other stretches of road which could badly do with improvement as well — for the sake of those travelling from Cork to Limerick, for instance.

Transport issues set to continue

The Metrolink project mentioned elsewhere on this page has the potential to take thousands of drivers off the road in the capital when it comes to fruition, and not before time.

The proposed introduction of car restrictions in Dublin City centre is another welcome development in the battle against traffic congestion, harmful emissions, and, unfortunately, road deaths.

This week saw the death of another cyclist in Dublin, John Walsh — shockingly, he is the second member of the UCD Cycling Club to be killed in less than a year, a graphic indication of the perils faced by cyclists.

Those perils can hardly be exaggerated. Even as we learned of Mr Walsh’s death, reports circulated of the gardaí stopping a car in Kildare, having noticed it driving erratically: Gardaí found the driver had a pint in the vehicle’s cupholder, and he then tested positive for alcohol. 

It is hardly a shock to learn that the roads and streets of the country are dangerous when people are literally drinking and driving at the same time.

The wider transportation context comes with other unfortunate complications, however. 

Those seeking to use public transport rather than contend with drunk drivers will hardly be reassured by the results of a recent Siptu poll.

In that survey of 615 of the union’s members, 80% felt abuse and anti-social behaviour had impacted their work, and over half of the respondents stated that they had experienced anti-social behaviour, verbal abuse, and in some instances, physical abuse. 

To return to cycling, an Economic and Social Research Institute paper has found that when plans to boost cycling and walking in areas are unveiled, they often face a “bikelash” due to negative expectations about the effects on businesses and traffic, though those expectations often turn positive later.

This snapshot of the interlocking challenges in this sector is from a one-week period, yet it illustrates clearly the range of factors which have an impact on any broad-ranging transport initiative. 

Until these contending interests can be balanced properly what hope is there for a co-ordinated transport plan?

Irish stars shine

Last weekend’s Baftas proved a happy hunting ground for Irish talent in general, and for Cillian Murphy specifically.

The Cork native took home the best actor award for his lead performance in Oppenheimer, but he was far from the only Irish performer in the limelight, with the likes of Barry Keoghan and Paul Mescal also picking up nominations for Saltburn and All Of Us Strangers respectively.

It was a powerful expression of the health of Irish film-making at present, particularly when taken in conjunction with the five Baftas collected by Poor Things, which was produced by Irish company Element Pictures.

There was further evidence of that quality to be seen last Monday, when Corkman Eanna Hardwicke picked up a prestigious European Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Hardwicke was selected as one of the 10 actors chosen as the most promising up-and-coming European talents this year; he follows in the footsteps of previous Irish recipients such as Ruth Negga, Domhnall Gleeson, and Andrew Scott.

“Irish film is in a great place,” said Hardwicke, “And I’m proud to call myself a part of this industry.” 

Long may that continue.