Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We saw in Cyprus this week what happens when a bailout puts a country's finances in the hands of the troika. We saw it also when we lost control some years ago. I mention this as once the troika turns a magnifying glass on a country which owes it money, it can identify areas in which it believes savings should be made. This is where water charges, property taxes and a number of other measures have come from. It happens once a country loses control. I mention this in the context of figures published last week on free travel. There are 3 million adults in Ireland, of whom 1.1 million receive free travel. There are not 1.1 million people who deserve free travel. This has happened because of add-ons. The figures published last week are based on 1973 statistics. No update is available.

I worry that free travel which is so worthy of support and is identified as a benefit to citizens will come under scrutiny to the extent that we begin to lose it due to overspending. I do not know how 1.1 million people have acquired permission for free travel. While I realise that those who are not able to travel on their own are allowed to travel with a partner, it seems to me that the scheme has got out of hand. When the scheme was introduced it cost very little. It was based solely on the time of day when buses and trains were travelling anyway. While I am delighted that the terms were later relaxed, we have gone very far. It is worthwhile to determine what has caused the cost to become so high that it may well place the whole scheme in jeopardy.

Senator Susan O'Keeffe referred to legislation to curb the abuse of alcohol. It had not dawned on me before Senator O'Keeffe raised the issue, but I note that a minimum price would be welcomed greatly by the producers of alcohol. They would love to see the price go up to provide them with more profit. On that basis, I question if it is the ideal answer. There must be a very good answer to the difficulties of alcohol abuse but I am not sure it is to give more profit to alcohol producers.