Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The NTA has already confirmed on many occasions that it is quite happy to step in where changes would arise whereby people lose a service that is currently provided by Bus Éireann on the Expressway link. That is the first point.

The second point is that Deputy Adams talks about lack of investment and rights and responsibilities in public services. I think what he wants is a set of rights without any responsibilities. We live in a Republic. We have a written Constitution that Deputy Adams sometimes finds difficulty in agreeing with, adhering to or believing. He seems to have a view that he can have everything his way with no responsibility at all. If his own economic policies were followed, there would not be a bob for any rural transport, never mind Expressway or the 81% who are carried by public services, as it is at the moment. I do not accept the Deputy's assertion at all. Rights, yes, but with responsibility.

The problem here is that the commercial end of Bus Éireann is not paying its way. That is where the nub of this problem is. Some 81% of the passengers are carried on a scheme that is publicly subvented by the taxpayer, and we support that. The Minister is looking at the funding requirements so there will be no loss of service to the public. I believe in that and there is no equivocation about that. The problem is the commercial end of Bus Éireann, which is Expressway. That needs to be sorted out around the table. I hope the unions and management can get together on this again, even though it is difficult and complex. The Minister, Deputy Ross, on behalf of Government, is very interested that this would happen.

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