Seanad debates

Thursday, 4 November 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Vincent P MartinVincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Recent reports of serious antisocial and unruly behaviour on the State's public transport services are a cause of serious alarm. The State provides these transport services and so it has a responsibility to protect all passengers. The State needs to not only protect people but to incentivise them to avail of public transport because that is intrinsic to this country reaching its climate targets. That cannot be done without a multi-sectoral approach. We need great collaboration from the different sectors. At the heart of that is public transport. We want to encourage people to use it. We get hung up about electric vehicles. Even if every car was replaced by an electric vehicle there should still be gridlock and congestion on our roads. Public transport is key.

In regard to the reports of antisocial behaviour there is prima facieevidence that they are law breakers. They are grotesquely rude, selfish and uncaring people who are undermining the rule of law. There should be zero tolerance of them. People should feel safe to travel by train but that is not the case at the moment. Germany and France have a tradition of zero tolerance, but not Ireland. We have to start that conversation, but we must have a collaborative approach. The Green Party in government has to step up here. The Green Party has a proud, close affinity and deep, strong advocacy for the use of public transport. What resources are required by the Department of Justice, the Department of Transport and An Garda Síochána to make public transport safe for people?

I am aware of a person who got his dream job of providing catering services on trains. He had to leave that job owing to the grotesque behaviour of passengers. He thought he had his dream job. I am also aware of a family who, when travelling on a train, had to go en masseto the toilet because they could not leave anyone alone owing to bullying and grotesque behaviour of passengers sitting adjacent to them. We have to come up with concrete, active ways of translating words into actions to help staff who are doing a good job. I know this House is supportive of that. During the winter, with the snow and inclement weather conditions, we know how lucky we are to have a transport system. My county is very fortunate to be served with rail transport. We must be seen to act. I propose to write to the Garda Commissioner and other relevant bodies and authorities in regard to a concrete tangible result that re-incentivises people to use public transport. People have to feel and be safe and protected on our public transport services.

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