Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

First, I must convey the regrets of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, that he is unavailable to introduce this important legislation to the House. He is in Armagh today attending a North-South Ministerial Council meeting. However, I am pleased to introduce the Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008, the main purpose of which is to establish a single public body that will be in overall charge of all surface transport in the greater Dublin area.

In essence, the intention behind the proposal to establish the Dublin transport authority is to ensure that the population of the greater Dublin area will in future have a high quality, integrated transport system that meets its travel and transport needs for both work and leisure in a sustainable way.

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