Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Most Deputies would agree that the Thatcherite legacy of privatisation of rail and bus services was shocking. Shortly after the privatisation of British Rail, British Government subsidies increased from £1 billion in 1980 to £6 billion in 2006. Likewise, the privatisation of bus services saw similar consequences, with bus fares increasing by 40% within eight years. Tendering on a route-by-route basis meant that there was no integration of services and the number of operators increased drastically.

Does the Minister of State not agree that, if certain routes are privatised, the providers will be geared towards making money rather than creating a service? Is this the way we should be going?

See this speech in context