Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It is probably rare that ICTU and IBEC agree on something. They both refer to the lack of capital investment. We can see it, especially because congestion is a significant issue. The committee's initiative aims to chart a course for the future of transport and public transport in particular. The three points about a detailed study are useful. I asked the Oireachtas Library to do a study, which pretty much confirms what the witnesses say, that there is no comparator and if we are to have an evidence-based approach, we need one. It is clear from the witnesses' study and the Library's study that we are on the tail end. That is indisputable. The level of subvention has been falling.

Only a few things can be done when the subvention is reduced. One is to increase fares, which has happened. That drives up the cost of going to work and so on. There is a knock-on cost in terms of wage demands. The second is to cut costs, which I suspect the public transport companies have done, or cut services. The subvention is central to the provision of good quality public services. The 1973 study was highlighted in the Oireachtas report which confirms the points the witnesses make. It is central to engage the stakeholders. They all have a very different experience from the dry academic perspective on what they are willing to pay in subvention.

I note the point in the SIPTU contribution about the conflicts between the regulatory and policy roles. It refers to the flat refusal to take into account the cost of provision of labour. If a competitive tendering decision is not being made on absolutely equal grounds, how can it be competitive? Will the witnesses talk about that because it will be a key factor in whatever policy approach we recommend?

In my area a provider was licensed to provide a service in tandem with Dublin Bus. There were different bus stops and locations. When the bus broke down, there was no back-up bus. The public could not figure out the services. It would be useful to know about these matters in the context of this area of competitive tendering and how the public might use the services.