Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Meade, Mr. Hendrick and Mr Kenny. Mr. Meade began his presentation by mentioning his staff. I find them to be outstanding. I take the train regularly and they are the friendly face of the organisation. I left Colbert Station in Limerick at 6.40 this morning. There were a lot of bleary-eyed people who are not used to getting up too early, but staff are always there with a smile and a professional air. They focus on getting everything out of the station on time, safely and in a very orderly fashion.

On the HR angle, maybe some of the members do or do not know that Jim Meade started his career in Irish Rail as an apprentice mechanic. I just want to say that I think that is a fantastic journey in any organisation to go from apprentice level. As politicians we are always saying that there are many routes into an organisation. To start at apprentice level and work the whole way up to chief executive is a fabulous passage and a journey that other organisations should try to replicate