Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains a commitment on the value and benefits of rural transport links for communities. In respect of that, and with an eye to the fiasco that is unfolding around Bus Éireann and the very aggressive position taken by management, I note that the Minister is missing in action from all of this. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Ross, be asked to present himself before the House and give a full account of his stewardship of this matter.

More to the point, I want him to outline how he and the Government propose to honour the programme for Government commitment which places a premium on the benefits of rural transport links for communities. To many of us, it seems that rather than building on it the Government is hellbent on dismantling it.

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