Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I have looked at the Fianna Fáil manifesto, which makes interesting reading at times. Two of the priorities it listed for the party's return to Government was the establishment of a public transport regulatory authority to introduce bus competition and a Dublin transport authority which would bring some relief to beleaguered Dublin commuters. Can we assume these proposals remain in the third section of the legislative programme, with the heads not even sent to Government, because the Progressive Democrats is seeking to dampen Fianna Fáil's enthusiasm in terms of bringing in bus competition? Maybe it is because there is now no Minister on the northside, which does not have the Luas, and there is nobody with the enthusiasm to deliver a decent bus service. What problem has arisen to cause this legislation to remain on the Government's third division list?

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