Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We should not be in a position in 2009 where because of a monopoly situation, 150,000 commuters were stranded this morning. It is a case of "your own way to work". Governments have given €4.7 billion to Bus Éireann and this group in the past ten years - €2 billion in capital and €2.7 billion for running routes. Yet this morning because of this unofficial dispute, not supported by unions, 150,000 people are left stranded. We have reports of intimidation, of rocks being thrown at buses as drivers attempted to take them out of the depot and of one female driver who was so intimidated she had to return to the depot. This is not good enough. The people of Dublin deserve better.

Has the Government reviewed this with a view to opening it up to real competition? It is more than ten years since the late Minister, Seamus Brennan, produced his document on opening up competition for Dublin Bus. Will the Government examine the possibility of opening it up to competition and what does the Taoiseach intend to do about the 150,000 people who are stranded and do not know what will happen tomorrow?

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