John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To respond to what Senator O'Sullivan said, I do not know whether I would like to be here when I am 70. I do not know, perhaps I would. Who knows. I would have to be here for 42 years if that were to be the case.

One of the first issues I raised when I became a Member of the House two years ago was the concept of flexible travel tickets and commuter tax saving tickets. We have had various discussions with the National Transport Authority, NTA, over the past year. The goal of introducing a commuter ticket has fallen down its list of priorities. The NTA previously stated that such a ticket would be introduced in the first quarter of 2022. It went from being so close to the finish line and being ready and implemented to being so far down the list of goals and objectives that it is no longer getting a fair hearing. One of the reasons for this, which I understand and accept, is that at the time the NTA was focused on introducing the 20% cut in fares across the board and introducing the 50% cut for people between the ages of 18 and 23. These have been achieved. They have all got across the line. I will not get the NTA to change its mind by getting up in the Seanad. What will change its mind is the Minister making a direct appeal. It is not up to the NTA to decide what is its priority. This is something that will benefit commuters throughout the country. It was so close to being introduced but, for some reason relating to technology, it has not been. I accept that if we are to have a commuter ticket, it would need to be accessible across all rail and buses. Obviously, this is different in certain sectors and whether someone on a public or private bus or at a particular rail station. The reason I am raising this is because we need the Minister to tell the NTA that we need it to revisit this and that we need to really consider it being introduced. This must come from the Minister and the Department directly. This is what I hope to see.