Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

These amendments are highly important and go to the heart of the Bill. While the heart of the Bill should be accountability, transparency and openness, there is no evidence that will happen in this case. As Deputy Broughan noted, most people are worried about the possible creation of another HSE. The Dublin transport authority, DTA, will have unbelievable powers, all of which I consider it to be entitled to because it will make decisions on the future of the greater Dublin area, including the counties contained within its remit. Many problems will arise in those areas and highly controversial decisions will be taken in respect of issues, including planning, the insistence on transport options, land use strategy planning, rows between local authorities and the DTA and the role of An Bord Pleanála which could be extremely important in this regard. The Minister has stated An Bord Pleanála will be obliged to dovetail its decisions with whatever DTA transport strategy is extant.

Moreover, there is another side to the argument. I refer to the scandal of the problem regarding integrated ticketing which has continued for approximately ten years and has cost between €20 million and €30 million. There has been no accountability and no one knows what is going on, except for those involved. Moreover, the taxpayer is funding this appalling mess and waste of money. Another point that has arisen concerns the question of turf wars between service providers. For example, the Railway Procurement Agency and Iarnród Éireann could fight over a plot of land in my constituency and a row broke out at Broadstone in which the Minister intervened to provide a solution.

Even more fundamental issues concern the board. One problem I envisage is that two senior executives of the DTA, together with the chief executive, will be members of the board. Consequently, three board members will be employed by, or executives of, the DTA. What would happen in the event of a major transport strike issue or a major problem regarding industrial relations or human resources and one of the aforementioned directors was on the board? While I will not use the term, "vested interest", I simply make the point that there will be interests on the board at times when significant conflicts could arise within the DTA in respect of the opinions of the board's executives and what might be a greater public good. Such a conflict could arise and conflicts will take place. How can one ensure accountability and transparency about what is going on?

As for the rail strike in Cork, the truth is that it was the Ceann Comhairle who gave permission for the debate in the House. While I do not suggest the Minister would not have come before it, given the manner in which the system in the House operates, the Ceann Comhairle makes such decisions. The difficultly I perceive is that this organisation is not sufficiently transparent. In respect of all aspects of transport, there should be no diminution or change in the Minister's accountability to the House regarding issues such as rail strikes. What will be the position on the tabling of parliamentary questions? They should not be referred, as are questions directed towards the HSE, into never-never land, from which one may receive a reply in one, two or three weeks and, in some cases, never.

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