Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Fahey for sharing his time with me. I welcome this Bill. As other speakers, including Deputy Fahey, have said, the introduction of legislation to replace the Road Transport Act 1932 with an Act that is more appropriate to modern Ireland is long overdue. It is incredible that the nature of bus, rail and taxi activities has not really changed in the last 77 years. I welcome the establishment of a new National Transport Authority to deal with all aspects of transportation. It is necessary to make these changes in a regulated way, however. The experience in London proves that allowing all and sundry to avail of free competition does not always work. Private operators in London have opted to cherry-pick the good routes and to provide services at certain times of day only, which is not what the public expects. People want a good service to be available when they need it, for example during the peak morning hours and again in the evening when they want to get home after the working day.

While the Bill might not be perfect, it represents a step in the right direction. It is not easy to endeavour to consolidate 80 years of changes, embracing all aspects of transportation, in one Bill. We should move towards more competition in a structured way. I welcome the Bill as a first step in meeting the value for money demands of taxpayers, who are subsidising the CIE group by approximately €360 million.

While I have previously been critical of CIE, particularly Dublin Bus, in my local area, the measures that were taken following the recent collapse of the viaduct over the Broadmeadow Estuary near Malahide proved that Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann can come up with the goods. The bus companies have provided an excellent service, in conjunction with Irish Rail, since the collapse of the line. They have offered express buses at frequent intervals in the morning and again in the evening, when people return from the city to places like Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Donabate. It proves that when the situation demands it, it can provide that vital service. That service uses Dublin Port tunnel. I have consistently said that the port tunnel is the most under-utilised asset in the State. The case for more usage of the tunnel is well made. I have had approximately 400 to 500 e-mails, letters and phone calls from constituents asking for the express buses from Balbriggan, Rush, Lusk and Donabate to be retained because people recognise that the buses using the tunnel get them into town in the shortest time. The service has been so good that it is beating the train service, which might seem incredible. However, having the service operate through the tunnel non-stop until it reaches the city centre means that people get into the city in the time they want. That service should continue. We know that the northern rail line in particular is chock-a-block from the time it leaves Drogheda and certainly by the time it reaches Balbriggan. People have complained about overcrowding on the train. I have made known my views to the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann that we need to continue some of those express services.

The provisions in the Bill before us will facilitate decisions in a shorter space of time. Rather than dealing with the antiquated 1932 Act, the Dublin Transportation Authority as the overall organisation dealing with transport issues can come to quick decisions in the best interests of the commuter. Our thanks are due to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann for meeting the demands for commuters in that situation with the rail line across Malahide Estuary having collapsed. While we have been excessively critical at times, we must pay due respects to them.

We need to keep repeating that the metro system from St. Stephen's Green, going out to Swords in my constituency is necessary. The volume of traffic on the M1 motorway is 20,000 cars daily. For sustainability we need to get those cars off the road. The only way to do so is by having this metro system which I am confident will carry 30 million passengers in a year, similar to what is happening with the Luas on the south side. I welcome that the An Bord Pleanála hearing is recommencing at the end of the month. I hope it will make its decision in a positive fashion by next spring. The Government needs to give the go-ahead for that project. The commuting public expect it and it will take cars off the road and reduce the CO2 emissions and allow people to get into the city in an easy frame of mind to do their day's work, rather than being stuck in traffic jams as is the case at present

Deputy Fahey mentioned taxi regulation. The taxi regulator will come under the ambit of the new DTA, which is necessary. We have gone from one extreme to the other in the past ten years or so. We used to have too few taxis not just in Dublin but also in Cork and elsewhere. We are now totally oversubscribed in that and worst of all many people are driving taxis with fraudulent plates and insurance. We need to get to grips with that situation.

I welcome the Bill. It is a step forward and while it might not be 100% perfect we need to introduce this legislation in a regulated fashion.

See this speech in context