Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The intent of this section does not relate to competition matters, which are of concern to Senators Quinn, O'Malley and Cannon. It relates to a case where, for example, there is an existing service at 9 a.m. and an application for one or more services at exactly the same time on exactly the same route. The authority, on foot of this provision, has the capacity to take account of the potential demand that exists for bus passenger services. In such a case the effect of competition might be, not the provision of several services but the diminution of the service which is already in place. The Bill does not set out to regulate the competitive elements which might exist. In the example I give it might be sensible to operate a second service at 9.05 a.m. or 9.10 a.m or perhaps on a slightly different route. Requiring the authority to "take account of the demand or potential demand that exists for the public bus passenger services to which the application refers having regard to the needs of consumers and any existing public bus passenger services on or in the vicinity of the route to be served by the proposed public bus passenger service" is probably very sensible. It certainly complies with the requirements of regulated competition, which is what the legislation is about, in terms of providing the best range of services for people while not undermining existing services in an unacceptable manner.