Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan, has rejected criticism of him by Charlie McCreevy in which the Finance Minister said Mr Brennan was putting forward public transport proposals which were 'totally unrealistic'.
Minister Brennan made the comments in Cork this afternoon at the opening of the Youghal by-pass.
He said the criticism, which is contained in a letter written by Charlie McCreevy and obtained by RTE News, was not personal and that other ministers had received similar letters.
Earlier the Transport Minister told a meeting in Waterford that no railway lines around the country will close but that each region must help develop business and passenger throughput on local lines.
A number of business groups in Waterford have reiterated their concerns that even though the city was designated 'hub' status in the National Spatial Strategy, infrastructural developments in the southeast remain poor.
Among the issues discussed at the meeting were the proposed motorway between Waterford and Dublin, the future of the Southeast Regional Airport and the future of rail links, such as the Limerick/Rosslare line and freight lines.
A spokesperson for Waterford Chamber of Commerce said Minister Brennan told them that the Limerick/Rosslare line was to remain open, and container companies at Waterford Port were to be offered more spaces on CIE freight services.
Seamus Brennan said an announcement on a new carrier for Waterford Regional Airport was due shortly, amongst other matters.
