Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the points and arguments put forward by both Deputies in respect of the amendments. I also acknowledge Deputy Broughan's long-standing attachment to this issue.

Amendments Nos. 2 and 7 are linked in that they put forward a proposal under which pre-booked services would be the subject of the licensing system laid down in the Bill. That system is focused on something entirely different from what is proposed in the amendments, namely, the provision of commercial bus services on dedicated routes. The concept that people can be transported from a specified point to any location or locations determined by them has already been established in the context of both private hire and public hire services through the operation of taxis, hackneys, limousines and other forms of pre-booked services which may be unique to particular localities. Such services do not meet the essential characteristics of actual bus routes or bus services in that they are not scheduled, they do not follow defined routes, they do not have intermediate stops along the way and, most importantly, they are not available to the general public on a separate fare basis. Public bus services should be available on an equal footing to all members of the public and should not be the subject of prior booking. Essentially, prior bookings amount to private hire.

The amendments tabled by Deputy Broughan are well-meaning in nature and I recognise the intention behind them. As Deputy O'Dowd stated, there is a broad degree of cross-party consensus with regard to the importance of bus services. The issue of funding is exercising people's minds in the context of rural transport. However, I submit that the issue of such funding is separate to the workings of the legislation before the House. It is not the case that it is not necessary to deal with the issues to which I refer. However, they are separate to the architecture of the Bill, which provides for public bus services on dedicated routes and not for pre-booked services.

I must reject the amendments, which fall outside the scope of and intention behind the legislation. However, I acknowledge the points raised by the Deputies in respect of this matter.

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