Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)

In fact, there would have been a saving to the Exchequer, which is the case across the transport spectrum. It is amazing. The transport sector appears to be the home of quangos - CIE, Dublin Bus and the National Roads Authority which is similar to the others in that it is being run by the Government which puts in its own people. It shows great disrespect for the transport sector which is treated with such contempt when it comes to putting people on boards. We cannot, therefore, take these authorities seriously. I pity Mr. Gay Byrne when he wakes up in the morning and walks into a board meeting. He must say, "God knows what sort of clowns they will put in today to sit on top of me." He does not know who is coming in. He is an extraordinarily eminent person, but he gets members of the board for whom he does not ask, whom he does not want and whose only qualification is that they are allied to a political party.

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