Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Would the Minister agree that it is remarkable that 12 years after the original Dublin transportation initiative report in May 1994 set out the clear recommendation to move towards integrated ticketing as soon as possible, we have no effective integrated ticketing? Is this not a sign of remarkable failure on the part of this Government after nine years in power?

Would the Minister also agree that instead of following the recommendation to request other operators to provide assistance to the RPA in this matter, international experience shows that the only effective way to get proper integration is by effective regulation, wherein a body, be it the Dublin Transportation Office, RPA or Department, told the agencies that they must integrate? Is it not the case that the blocking agencies in developing integrated ticketing have, to a large extent, been the public transport bodies in this city, be they Dublin Bus, Irish Rail or others? I want the Minister to comment on this matter directly. If he believes this is the case for whatever reason, such as commercial rivalry or the agencies' fears about confidentiality, is it not incumbent on his Department to start taking real action and enforce the recommendation set out 12 years ago in the Dublin transportation initiative plan? Why have we failed for 12 years? Why is the Government still just requesting and not ordering proper integration?

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