Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move:

“That Seanad Éireann: recognises that:

- there is a recent increase in anti-social behaviour on public transport across the country;

- this increase is dissuading the public from utilising the transport network;

- young people, the elderly and women are particularly impacted;

- this behaviour is undermining the significant investment and funding allocated to the public transport system by the Government;

notes the:

- exposure of public transport staff to regular threats of violence;

- recent suspension from 6 p.m. of Dublin Bus services in parts of its network, after reports of 35 incidents of violence, attacks, vandalism, threats with knives, and a female driver terrorised by a large mob;

- testimony of bus drivers to Dublin Bus management that it is not tenable for them to ‘risk life and limb, driving buses ... to be attacked and assaulted’;

agrees that:

- everyone on public transport, whether employee or passenger, should be able to rely on a safe and secure system and be protected from anti-social behaviour;

- public transport is important in meeting Ireland’s climate goals;

and calls for:

- the establishment of a dedicated Public Transport Unit within An Garda Síochána.”