Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I am glad this debate is taking place against the background of the deferral of the threatened Dublin Bus dispute. In spite of all the difficulties we have seen, I would not be keen to see the concept of compulsory redundancies brought into any branch of the public service. However, maximum efficiency from limited resources is required, given the current background.

I am happy to contribute to this debate, because I am a regular user of the Nos. 10, 30, 41E, 59 and 92 buses services of Dublin Bus when I am in the city. I usually use them in combination with some other form of transport. I have been an occasional user of Bus Éireann services such as those from Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Durrow, Cashel, Sligo, Bundoran, Killarney, Kenmare, Limerick, Listowel, Ennis and Galway. There is a conception that if someone becomes an office holder, he or she never sees public transport for the duration of his or her time in office. I have hardly changed my habits at all since I became a Minister of State, except that I must travel around the country much more now.

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