Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

A key issue not involved in these memoranda of understanding or new contracts is the taking into account of commuters' views. The Minister should insist that commuters should be consulted, particularly where timetables have been changed very recently. On the northern line, trains now take longer to get to Dublin and people are extremely angry that there are more stops on the route. There was no consultation about changes and trains do not connect as they used to. There is a disparity of rights as well; if a person travels from north of Balbriggan into Dublin, the ticket terminates at Pearse Street but if a person travels from Balbriggan to Dublin, the commuter can travel anywhere on the internal rail and bus network in Dublin. Will the Minister include regular consultation with commuters, particularly before timetables change?

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