Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this important motion. The scenes that we saw in south-west Dublin in recent weeks were only the latest incidents that have taken place for quite a number of years.These incidents are not new, but I very much hope they provide the impetus to put proper structures in place to keep drivers and passengers safe. If we are serious about trying to improve public transport use, particularly in certain communities in Dublin where there is a reputation of it not being safe to get on a bus, we must have a transport policing unit. We can get into the semantics of a "public transport unit" and "public transport policing unit" but they are one and the same thing. It is important the unit is established within An Garda Síochána.

This idea is not new. Trade unions, which have been working with rail, bus, DART and Luas drivers, have been calling for this for more than 20 years. I am delighted officials from SIPTU, namely, Mr. John Murphy, Mr. Paul Cullen and Mr. Stephen Millane, are present this evening because they feel passionately about getting the safety and security of drivers and, of course, passengers right. It cannot take a death or a life-changing injury before changes are made.

I do not want to say this but this issue has been brought up over many years and the usual refrain is that this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner; actually, it is a matter for the Government.