Mr. Graham Doyle:

The services from private operators were introduced but it is not a free-for-all and a completely open competitive market. It is regulated competition, with the National Transport Authority being the regulator. One must apply for a licence and get it or an altered version if one is prepared to accept it. The NTA has refused more licences in this regard than it has accepted over recent years. There are large chunks of the public who want to travel on direct services. At this point the market has grown to the extent that there are approximately 23 million passenger journeys on commercial services, of which Bus Éireann at this point accounts for approximately 30%. The market has grown very significantly and we see many more people travelling on public transport as a result of that measure. If this results in a position where Bus Éireann can no longer serve towns that must be served, there is a mechanism that can be used. In fairness to the National Transport Authority, it has been at pains in recent times - as recently as yesterday in a committee room here - to point out that it has the power to step in if Bus Éireann pulls away and a public service need must be met.