Michael Healy-Rae has said there should be no tolls this weekend to help with traffic flow for the all-Ireland final.
Last week, thousands of Tipperary and Cork fans travelled to the capital for the hurling final, with huge backlogs building up near toll booths.
In order to spare Donegal and Kerry football fans the same fate, the Minister of State for Agriculture said he believes no tolls should be levied on the weekend of an All-Ireland final.
“The tolls are making enough money every day of the week, day and night, 24 hours a day,” he explained to Newstalk Breakfast.
“We’re all contributing and building up the offers of the operators.
“I really would say that I really think at this time, especially this weekend, that the tolls should open and let the people flow.”
Kerry fans on matchday. Picture by: Alamy.com.The Kerry TD continued that waiving the tolls would “make an awful difference” to the many thousands of fans travelling long distances to cheer on their county.
“I think it would be number one, a nice gesture to support an all-Ireland final and the people going to it by allowing them to flow freely,” he said.
“From a safety point of view, from a traffic management point of view, it would be the right thing to do.
“They make enough the rest of the time. It would just be the right thing to do in the interest of everybody.”
He added that he “wouldn’t discriminate against the good people of Donegal either”.
“I’m not just saying to let the Kerry fans flow - but let them flow down, as well as up,” he said.
On the question of whether people travelling to attend other events in Dublin should also enjoy toll free travel, Minister Healy-Rae described himself as “passionate about GAA”, but less so about Taylor Swift.
“You won’t hear me looking for tolls to be opened for Taylor Swift or anybody else of that [nature],” he said.
“I’m sure she’s a great person and a great entertainer, but you wouldn’t have the people travelling in the numbers that they’ll be travelling.”
A Kerry fan watches a football match. Picture by: Alamy.com.As for predictions about the match, Minister Healy-Rae said Kerry fans should never feel “cocky” but should feel “confident”.
“When you’re from County Kerry, we have one thing that maybe other people don’t have,” he said.
“That is a strong belief in ourselves and our abilities.
“I believe our team are better than anyone else, that’s why we’ve reached the final and whatever about the tolls being open, we believe we will be bringing the Sam Maguire through the tolls, coming home.”
The throw-in for Donegal versus Kerry will be 3.30 on Sunday afternoon.
Main image: A split of Michael Healy-Rae and a toll operator. Pictures by: Justin Farrelly/RollingNews.ie and Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland.
