Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Indeed I will knock myself out. I thank the Cathaoirleach for the clarity regarding the three-minute slots. I want to raise an issue regarding the National Transport Authority, NTA, and how it operates. It is a significant issue. The NTA is a major driver of infrastructure in the State when it comes to public transportation. There is a lack of engagement regarding decisions it makes that affect the public and how we deal with it.

I bring Senators' attention again to the huge issue we have with the bus service from Kinsale to Cork city. During the Covid period, the bus stop was changed to an unsafe location. We have done everything from signing petitions and writing to the Minister and the NTA to having the Garda involved, but we cannot even get a response. I think I have written to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, five times on this issue with no response. That is unfortunate. This is a big issue for many people. There is a massive budget attached to this organisation and my inability, and the inability of any public representative I talk to, to have a meaningful engagement with it is a huge issue for the State. We should have a good debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, about what pathways there are for us, as public representatives, to deal with the NTA. I do not believe there is any significant pathway at the moment. We write and we get no response. Senator Buttimer is in the Chair and will understand it is quite obvious that the organisation needs to have an office in Cork. We have been saying it needs a base or location in Cork. The NTA is a Dublin-based organisation telling us how to do our business down south and it will not meet us on the street or about these issues. We need to have a root-and-branch review of how the NTA operates. I put it to the Leader that we should have a debate about this issue. As Senators can see by the weather out there, it is significant when it comes to weather conditions that we have elderly people standing in the rain at 11.30 p.m. waiting for a bus, and we cannot even put a bus stop there. That is a big issue for me.

The other issue I raised yesterday is that of the grain farmers. Today is an horrendous day. Thousands of acres of grain will not be picked up and will not see the combine harvester this year because of unfortunate weather conditions. The farmers will lose that grain and will not be able to survive. I go back to my original request yesterday. We need to have a significant debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine about this issue. He needs to come to this Chamber and put to us his thoughts on how we can put an effective fund in place to save these poor farmers. With the horrendous weather, they will never save their crop.