Jim McDaid (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this issue, which is a legal matter. My Department received a complaint in August 2000 from a private operator, Park Transport International, that Bus Éireann was competing, contrary to section 25 of the Road Transport Act 1958, with new licensed services that had been introduced in July 2000. Bus Éireann is exempt from licensing under the Road Transport Act 1932. However, the company is bound under section 25(1) of the Transport Act 1958 to seek the consent of the Minister if it wishes to initiate or alter services to compete with a licensed service.