Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Smith cannot expect me to agree with her and I do not. Putting these routes out to tender is not a wage deal at all. It is a matter of introducing competition into the market. It is not a wage deal, which is a separate issue that was discussed in a separate forum and where a settlement was reached to the satisfaction of all parties. That is not related to this particular issue. The point of competition in the market is for the benefit of customers and for the service to improve. The NTA will also regulate whoever wins the tender. This is to give more choice, to give a better service and to keep fares down. All services will continue to be regulated by the NTA under the new arrangements. The new arrangements will benefit the travelling public in a number of ways, which I do not have the time to go into now, but the Deputy knows them herself.

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