Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

——but I also want to examine how Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann's operations are run in order to get the maximum value for them as efficient, well-run companies. This concerns how they organise all their current assets. My view is that they can do much more with what they have.

The second point is that private investment in bus operations around the country has been phenomenal in recent years. There has been a huge investment in such transport capacity. I have met with the social partners — the unions and company management — and we have all agreed that the Dublin market needs to be opened up. The trade unions have agreed with that also. We now want to bring to a conclusion what exactly that means. I have views, as do the trade unions and company management, and we are not that far apart.

See this speech in context