Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

One hopes it cannot recur but we are dealing with a situation involving a number of bus companies, private contractors and large numbers of individual drivers. The important issue is that Bus Éireann will, on our behalf, ensure the correct procedures are put in place. Where issues have come to light, the company has dealt with them efficiently.

I did not mean to imply that the system in Northern Ireland is not working well. My point is that cross-Border co-operation in this regard is not effective. Progress will be made on this when the cross-Border bodies are functional once more.

See this speech in context