Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said he is opposed to mandatory tendering but I hope we do not go down the road of tendering out. I accept the Minister said he has been given a directive from the EU but we must find some way of stopping the drive towards privatisation.

The rail service is and should be for the people. A positive aspect of the rail network is that there has been an increase in the number of passengers’ right across the country. There is scope to develop and improve. I accept Irish Rail owes a huge amount of money. The Minister referred to €150 million. The Government should write the figure off. We should not place demands on the rail network to meet its debts. The State has a responsibility to look after the rail network, the bus routes and other transport elements. To me, that is a sign of a state that is working.

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