Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Ms O'Reilly on her report, which is a broad area of work. Ms O'Reilly referred to public interest consideration when she attended committee hearings in the period January to March. One of the issues that crops up in some of our recommendations and in her report is the issue of the public interest test, to determine exactly what is in the public interest. For example, I refer to the issue of Bus Éireann and passenger numbers. One can argue about whether Bus Éireann is a monopoly. What is the public interest aspect of knowing that information? Who would conduct the public interest test? Sections of the report refer to the body itself undertaking the test while the committee recommended a co-ordinated public interest test undertaken by Ms O'Reilly's agency or some other body.