Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 8, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:

"(a) shall have regard to the desirability of ensuring that operators of public bus services are treated on an equitable basis with operators of private bus services,".

The amendment would add to the general provisions of the core licensing section the words, "shall have regard to the desirability of ensuring that operators of public bus services are treated on an equitable basis with operators of private bus services". Its origins lie in concerns that arose from an examination of the badly regulated English market where public monopolies have been replaced by private monopolies. The four large operators in England engage in a form of dance with each other but refuse to compete in a serious or significant manner.

The core issue relates to the companies which will operate a public service obligation. Some of the vulnerable communities served by these companies only have access to a bus service. For this reason, an amendment is needed to ensure a level playing pitch between the public service operators and private bus services.

Notwithstanding the Minister's comment that other parts of the Bill would render redundant this amendment, it would be preferable to spell out this matter at the start of this critical section.

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