Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have people here from LUAS and Dublin Bus and Irish Rail but SIPTU is representing Bus Éireann, GoAhead and Aircoach as well, they are bringing the experience from everybody to the table. I would like to thank SIPTU and all of the witnesses who turned up today for their participation in today's meeting. I would like to thank them and all of the people who work in public transport for everything they do because we would all, to a greater or lesser extent, be absolutely lost without it. If public transport was not there the level of congestion could not be lived with. Everybody who uses public transport is benefiting those who are still driving as much as they are benefiting themselves. I thank the witnesses for what they are doing and there will be an opportunity for further engagement if they would like it. Equally we will bring this issue to the attention of the NTA the next time they are in, we will be asking them about it.

There is certainly scope to deal with the three points made by the witnesses; the charter, the establishment of the National Transport Authority advisory council and indeed the question of a policing force. Certainly from a Fianna Fáil perspective, we in the Seanad had a motion down looking for a dedicated public transport police. We did not get much Government support - I would put inverted commas around that - even though we are a Government party. Work is constantly going on; we did our own survey about anti-social behaviour in Dublin on public transport. Everything we are all doing, particularly what the witnesses have done today, is very important in highlighting the issue and I thank them for that.

The next meeting of this committee will be a public meeting next Wednesday, 24 April. I thank you all.

The joint committee adjourned at 3.23 p.m. until 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.