Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss issues regarding bus driver recruitment with representatives of Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland and the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, CTTC. On behalf of the committee, I welcome from Bus Éireann, Mr. Stephen Kent, chief executive officer, and Ms Jean O'Sullivan, chief people officer; from Dublin Bus, Mr. Billy Hann, chief executive officer, Mr. Ciarán Rogan, chief customer officer, and Mr. Phil Donohue, head of HR and development; from Go-Ahead Ireland, Mr. Andrew Edwards, chief executive officer, and Ms Niamh Swords, operations director; and from the CTTC, Mr. William Martin of Martin's Coaches in Limerick, chairperson, and Mr. Feargal Barton of Barton's Transport in Kildare, a member of the council's executive. Joining us online is Mr. Brendan Crowley, a member of the council's executive and owner and operator of Wexford Bus.

I will read a note on privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside of the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member participating via MS Teams to confirm he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus prior to making his or her contribution to the meeting.

It is rare that we have a meeting with so many witnesses so we are almost swamped not just by the witnesses here but those in the Public Gallery. They are all very welcome. Hopefully, we will have a good meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to tease out the blockages, gaps and difficulties faced by the witnesses possibly with the public system and public process of the national driver licence service, NDLS, or the RSA. Is there a way of making it more streamlined in terms of getting more drivers into the system so we can have a better system for all of us? I invite Mr. Stephen Kent from Bus Éireann to make his opening statement.