Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will make the point that the autumn will be important for the aviation sector. I am interested in seeing what those levers are. I do not think they will be enough as regards connectivity. We have a very liberal aviation market. We will consider how that can be influenced to try to deliver on the regional balance we all want to see, but it needs to be more than that.

NTA representatives were before the committee for a very good session a couple of weeks ago. I am very concerned about the taxi industry and late nights. As a senior Minister, he needs to address the taxi industry in the first instance but also broader public transport services out of hours or late at night, as does his colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, in the context of the late-night economy. I am not satisfied that the NTA is on top of the matter, is responding adequately or is prepared to respond adequately. It needs considerable attention. That will become more apparent as time goes by. Maybe I am wrong, but it requires ongoing attention.

I am hearing concerns from colleagues throughout the country regarding some of the public transport services, especially some of those provided by Go-Ahead Ireland. I have raised this with the NTA, as have my colleagues, but it is something that will require particular attention. There are challenges across the board in delivering services because of driver recruitment and retention issues. There are particular problems in that area that need to be addressed.