Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----Fine Gael TDs and people. I could reel them off if you like.

I thank the Deputy and also the Minister of State for his responses. I will go through items based on the Estimate and the contribution the Minister of State made earlier. Then, as I mentioned, I would like to go into a little more detail regarding Dublin Airport and recent judicial decisions.

I will start, as Deputy O'Rourke left off, on the fare reductions, which of course are very welcome. This scheme has been a terrific success in terms of promoting public transport options right across the country. A huge number of people are very grateful for the cost reduction and the message it sends, which is that we want people to use public transport. I should point out that it is not without issue, as we have highlighted. I highlighted the irony of being late for this meeting because my trains were late, for instance. However, I would like to hear the Minister of State's own view. I have very strong views regarding making measures such as these permanent; in fact, going further. We have examples within the European Union, in Germany, of fares being reduced to zero and the impact that has had. While I do not think we are anywhere near being able to do that in this country because it would likely grind our public transport service operators, and, indeed, some private operators, to a halt, as an ambition, it should be stated it would be mine. What is the Minister of State's view on that?