Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I was interacting with Mr. Kent earlier when our time ran out. I ask Mr. Kent to reply to me about the run with the nine children, which then had ten children. I want to elaborate a bit about Farranfore. I am incensed about that. There is a railway yard which facilitates people getting on the train for Tralee, Killarney, Dublin or whatever. The buses can go in there. There is a shelter for people and a parking area for people bringing others to the bus. I cannot see why that is not operating. Having people standing out in the rain, all day, every day, is totally and absolutely wrong, which is what is happening there.

We are all human beings and people make errors, whether drivers or contractors, but the penalty or sanction for making any kind of a mistake with Bus Éireann is that the driver cannot drive anymore for Bus Éireann for as long as he lives, and the contractor cannot operate anymore for Bus Éireann. This relates to bringing schoolchildren. We have operated the service since 1956, with my father doing so before me and me since 1974 or 1975, and we take it seriously, but you can make a mistake. I know of a driver who went home one evening after delivering all his children, and when he looked out the window, there was a child inside in the bus. He took the child home. The parents were happy. She had fallen asleep. The question is whether the bus driver is supposed to get up off his seat, leave the controls unattended and go back and check each child. He took the child home immediately. Nothing happened to the child. The parents were happy to have their child back. Some other good-for-nothing people who should be minding their own business reported him to Bus Éireann, and he can never again drive a bus for Bus Éireann. If you commit manslaughter, you get out after six or seven years. If you rob the bank in Kenmare, you will get so many years but not life. This is very wrong. I know of another bus operator who made a slight mistake. Will Mr. Kent reply about who made that decision or those rules? Where are they emanating from, because they seem very strict and unfair?