Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 9, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:

"(3) The Authority shall invite and consider submissions from any local authority whose functional area includes a place to which the application relates.

(4) The making of a submission under subsection (3) shall be a reserved function.".

This amendment is about the authority. It recommends that the authority shall invite and consider submissions from any local authority whose functional area includes a place to which the application relates and also that it would become a reserve function. In becoming a reserve function, it would have to go before the elected representatives. It ensures applications for bus routes are considered by local representatives in the local authorities.

In response to this amendment which we tabled on Committee Stage, the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, responded that the Bill, under section 10(2)(b), already gives discretion to the authority to seek submissions and, as such, the Minister is not convinced of the need for such a provision because it might cause unnecessary delays and might not apply to one-off applications. However, it is my party's view that the amendment would strengthen the Bill, is appropriate and would increase the democratic process in all of these matters.