David Norris (Independent)

I move amendment No. 46:

In page 42, subsection (1), after line 47, to insert the following:

"(d) Any new such public service contract within the greater Dublin area shall be offered first to Dublin Bus and or Bus Eireann.".

The Minister has more or less addressed this amendment already because he suggested a European directive required the existence of an open, public and competitive regime. While I favour the existing service providers, particularly where there is a social element, I take it he will reiterate that answer, in which case I will have to accept it.