Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

If the Deputy had given me some notice I could have informed him on that issue. I have had similar complaints from Bus Éireann in Deputy Broughan's area and from other Deputies. Nearly every time I went to investigate, I found that the company had started a service which was in direct competition with an existing service that was licensed. It was told it could not do so under the terms of the 1958 Act and that it had to seek consent. If it had sought consent it would be dealt with. In about 80% of the cases, consent was not sought but the company complained about not getting the service. I do not know if that is the case in Drogheda but I will check it out.

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