Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee today. I apologise for the absence of my party colleague, Deputy Ellis, who had to attend another meeting. I normally cover communications, energy and natural resources issues, but am covering transport for Deputy Ellis today.
I am totally confused and I do not believe it is just because I do not normally deal with transport. I do not know why we are having this discussion today, as it should have been held two years ago. Our discussion at this stage should be with the Minister and not with the unions. I do not have any questions for the unions. I agree with practically everything the witnesses have said. I do not know why the Minister made this decision. Is it to comply with an EU directive? Why is it 10%? Will it stay at 10%? No, it will not because if one stands still one will die so that 10% will have to grow. Are we looking at the beginning of the total privatisation of public transport services? Why pick these routes? What did the people down in Waterford do to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar? They must have done something very bad to him.
What will be the impact on Bus Éireann and the public transport network? What will be the impact on the income of the existing public services? Are all employees of private bus operators unionised? I very much doubt they are. Somebody mentioned the Dromod and Roosky bypass. I do not believe the Minister, the Department, the NTA or even the union head offices are too concerned about people living in Dromod or Roosky, but I know who they are. I know the Maggie Anns of this world who used always to travel that route. However, now because the Bus Éireann bus has to compete with a private bus service, the Bus Éireann bus no longer goes through these two villages and instead goes on the bypass, thus reducing the number of people on the bus and making it a faster although not more efficient service.
Mr. McCamley put his finger on it. I believe the reason I am confused is that there is no national strategy. In the absence of strategy we have an ad hocsituation. This bears all the hallmarks of an ad hocdecision. My primary question is to the committee. Is there any way to put this on ice and encourage the Minister to come up with a coherent strategy and set of policies regarding transport?
I have a question for the union representatives. Has this tendering process started anywhere yet? Will the tendering process require the tendering companies' staff to be unionised and paid an acceptable wage?