Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I wonder if people listen to me. I have been saying all along that a major, substantial international operator is very interested in coming onto the Irish market. That is terrific news. Are we saying that one such operator is not enough, that there should be ten or 20? One substantial competitor would have a dramatic effect on the Irish market.

Let us be realistic about the scale of our infrastructure in terms of rail. We have invested more than €1.5 billion in recent times and will be spending more in terms of upgrading the quality, track signalling and all the safety issues. In terms of infrastructure, we have made the rail system attractive to operators by putting rolling stock onto it because they know they are getting a very good system in place. Accordingly, we already have a substantial international operator, a name which will be known to everyone internationally, interested in coming onto the Irish market. I have already told the Department that when the opportunity arises early next year, that operator will be seeking a licence. That is very good news.

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