I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 15 together.
I am in the course of finalising my consideration of proposals for the liberalisation of the bus industry and I expect to be in a position to submit detailed proposals for a general scheme of a Bill to the Government shortly. I expect it will be the new year before any such Bill is brought before the House.
One of the major objectives of my proposals will be to improve the levels and quality of bus services available to the general public and to introduce competition into the bus industry on a sensible and orderly basis. The issues involved are complex and I have put in place liaison arrangements between my Department and the various interested parties, including the trade unions, in order to elicit the widest possible range of views in relation to the future development of competition within the industry. I receive regular progress reports on discussions with all these parties. It is my intention to meet with the trade unions at the appropriate time. There are no proposals for the privatisation of Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann.
The arrangements which I have made for the provision of late night bus services over the Christmas period are in the nature of a test and experiment in relation to private sector participation in the provision of scheduled bus services. They are also, of course, a response to the growing demand for alternative late night transport over the Christmas period, particularly in view of the drink-driving crackdown.