Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Munster's amendment talks about carrying out of a full review of the operations of the Expressway service and the Expressway market. That is included in the motion that was passed by the Dáil on 2 February already and that is why my party did not specify it again. It was included and has been voted on and passed by the Dáil on 2 February 2017.

It is the Minister's responsibility to bring a forum together to deal with all policy-related issues, which include how the NTA issues licences and how the licences have been awarded in the past. Much of Deputy Munster's amendment is included in the original motion that has been put before the Oireachtas committee today. We are far better off to be at one as a committee in sending a clear message to the Minister, rather than being pedantic and splitting hairs over certain wordings.

I put forward the motion in good faith three weeks ago, as the clerk to the committee can confirm, because of the ongoing difficulties in Bus Éireann and to give all members of the Oireachtas committee an opportunity to support the motion and to send a clear unambiguous message to the Minister, Deputy Ross. It has to be said that this committee has sent messages to Deputy Ross, both in writing and in person when he has been here before us talking about the difficulties facing Bus Éireann and unfortunately they have fallen on deaf years thus far. The Minister cannot abdicate his responsibility any longer. This is becoming a serious issue. We are now looking at the possibility of Bus Éireann, the semi-State company that has been providing public transport across the country, being insolvent in a matter of weeks, if not months. It is the Minister's responsibility, as the main shareholder in this company, to intervene without delay.