Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

No, amendment No. 27 was not in the group. Amendments Nos. 28 to 30, inclusive, were in the group. It is a different amendment and one in which the Acting Chairman, Deputy Kennedy, might be interested. The amendment seeks to provide local authorities with a role in the licensing process and place it in legislation. It is almost certain that local authorities will have a view on this and the Acting Chairman expressed strong views on the maintenance of some services in north Fingal. It is very important to our constituents that councillors have an opportunity to make known their views on a licence application. Under section 10(2) a local authority may but is not required to, as the Minister mentioned on Committee Stage, seek the views of any person. The amendment would make it mandatory for local authorities to do so.

During the debate in the Seanad, the Minister stated he might include a reference to local authorities but he did not want it to be a reserved function because it would cause delay. My colleagues in the Seanad argued that was not democratic. Surely it is a basic attribute of local authorities to have an interest in transport routes. They are responsible for traffic management and constantly receive submissions on all aspects of local traffic and transport provision. It would seem reasonable that local authorities would be involved at the licensing stage and that members would have a view.

Often, the level of demand for a service was brought to the attention of the national bus company, Dublin Bus and other operators by Members of this House and councillors. There has been a movement to try to take power away from councillors. I believe strongly in the power of local government and I look back with great fondness at the 12 years I spent on Dublin City Council because of the work done by my local government colleagues and the officials in trying to run the city. Transport is part of that and the Minister might give a direct role in licensing provisions to local authority members.

See this speech in context