Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The programme for Government makes a clear commitment to reforming bus licensing to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants. This is a legislative rather than an economic issue. The Minister for Transport is in the hands of CIE and the bus unions and misses every opportunity to reform the bus market. Is it not the case that his inaction, unfair subsidies and unfair competition by Bus Éireann have caused the Circle Line service between Kildare and Dublin, a good, private service, to cease operations?

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