Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)

I concur with Senator McHugh's comments on bureaucratic madness. It is particularly evident in County Donegal where sheep being exported to the North must be transported 25 or 30 miles south to be inspected and retagged before being driven a further 25 or 30 miles back across the Border, although the destination meat factory is located just ten minutes away. As a result of this practice, sheep are sometimes not slaughtered on the day following inspection.

Senators will be aware of the problems encountered with regard to school buses during the summer. The two issues which arise in this context are the three for two policy and continuing problems associated with private bus operators used by Bus Éireann. I understand one of the main grievances of the private operators is that Bus Éireann refuses to negotiate with them as a group, despite the fact that they have a representative body. I ask the Minister to instruct Bus Éireann to negotiate with this body. This is a democratic country and these people should be represented by their own groups. Every other organisation in the country is represented by its umbrella body and these people deserve the same treatment. We must deal with this issue soon because it will arise again.