Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am at one with the Senator in that we need to have much better statistics on transport, to have them independently collected and published regularly. We are getting there. The Irish Maritime Development Office already publishes an excellent statistical bulletin and reports. The National Transport Authority now has the power to collect transport statistics for public transport. For the first time, it has the legislative authority to require private transport operators to hand over their statistics which will be helpful in planning the bus network. I agree we need a similar set-up for the airports and aviation sector. I am not sure whether it needs to be written into legislation or that CAR is the right body to do it.

Will the Senator withdraw the amendment and I will deal with it in the context of aviation policy, picking the right body to do it whether it will be the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, the CSO or the Department?