Behind The Story: Sorry saga of signal failure

Updated / Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 18:21

Even after writing off €50m, Iarnród Éireann still finds itself embroiled in a battle over a failed signalling project that could end up costing even more, despite never having been operational.

Today senior management from the company were before the Oireachtas Transport Committee answering questions on how the contract for a new rail traffic management system went so badly wrong.

On this episode of Behind The Story, Irish Times Public Policy Correspondent Martin Wall takes us back to the beginning of this story, which saw Spanish company Indra awarded a contract in 2020.

In July this year, Iarnród Éireann terminated its contract with Indra because it had "not delivered" what was contracted for. However, that is not the end of the story.

Both sides now are embroiled in a dispute over a further €30m in costs associated with the project. And on top of this, the much-needed new signalling project still needs to get done.

"Irish Rail wants to bring in a new contractor, Siemens," Martin explains. "It needs to get approval from the National Transport Authority before it can actually start that process."

What will happen south Lebanon as the Irish peacekeepers depart?

We talk to security analyst Declan Power as the last Irish troops prepare to carry out peace keeping duties in Lebanon.

UNIFIL's mandate will end in December after a UN Security Council decision last year.

"I think it's tragic because of the way it's ending and the time it's ending," Power says, "Because we invested time, energy, professional expertise, and blood in the maintenance of peace and security for the ordinary civilian population," he adds.

He also says the peacekeeping landscape has changed, and that Ireland's 'Triple Lock’ is no longer fit for purpose.

The ‘Triple Lock’ means that a decision to send Defence Forces Personnel overseas to serve as part of peace keeping or peace enforcement operation involves UN approval, a decision by Government and a vote in the Dáil.

Power says if the ‘Triple Lock’ is maintained, peacekeeping missions would be stymied.

"It would be very bad for morale in the Defence Force because for career soldiers, overseas services is the ultimate testing ground of your skills and your ability."

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