Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I do not wish to repeat myself every time I answer questions in the House but, as the Deputy is aware, I am keen to table the necessary legislation. We introduced part of the required legislation, namely, the Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008, with the co-operation of Opposition Members including Deputy Broughan. We are now concentrating on amending the Road Transport Act 1932 as quickly as possible. I expect to discuss this in the House early next year.

The case involving Swords Express was settled in the High Court on 28 October 2008. The principal element of the settlement provided for an inquiry created under section 25(2) of the Transport Act 1958 to deal with a decision to authorise rerouting of the 41X bus service in Swords. The inquiry will produce a report which will be submitted to me for final determination and this will be pursued within a defined timeframe. In addition, the High Court settlement allows the Department to give early consideration to outstanding applications for express bus services from Swords. We await a submission from Digital Messenger consultants, the receipt of which will trigger the inquiry.

Regarding Deputy O'Dowd's point about penalties, if a bus operator is in breach of the terms of its private bus operator's licence under the 1932 Act it is a matter for the Garda which is supposed to pursue the matter.

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