Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The questions I wish to ask are about the tendering process. All anyone ever wants in a process is to be treated fairly and to believe that the playing pitch is as level for them as it is for their next-door neighbour. Nobody likes dealing with a system where they believe there is a bias - real or perceived.

Under Bus Éireann's tendering process, does it have an appeals mechanism? If not, do the witnesses perceive merit in having an appeals mechanism? In addition, when a contract is awarded under the company's tendering process, does it have any obligation to follow up with the person who has been awarded that contract to ensure he or she is fully in compliance with employment law? Does Bus Éireann have an anti-corruption policy? If so, what is the architecture of that policy and who are the main personnel who would deal with it?

What are Bus Éireann's investment plans for school transport for the future? In common with other members present, I represent a rural constituency and every June and July, we must deal with severe problems arising for people who find themselves without a school transport ticket and who are trying to get to areas to which they traditionally have gone. While I do not have it to hand at present, I refer to the 3 km rule or whatever it is and members have not been able to deal with that in any satisfactory way. We meet people with medical cards who cry to me that they cannot afford to pay for the tickets. While Mr. Nolan stated the company had €30 million in savings, can any of it be used to come up with a satisfactory solution to these pockets of which there are not many? Some other Deputies also have experienced this issue, which I have encountered in a number of areas. If a novel way could be found to try to solve that issue, I would be grateful. However, the witnesses should deal with the other questions.