asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether an organised tour of the Galway Bay area has been contracted with a private bus company from a northern county by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company, Limited.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coach Tour Contract.
15.
A licence under the Road Transport Act, 1932, would be required by any operator other than CIE for the provision of this tour. I have not received any application for such a licence, nor would I be prepared to grant one.
Is it necessary to have a licence to operate a bus?
It is necessary for any organisation except CIE to have a licence.
It is necessary?
Yes, to run buses carrying passengers who pay fares separately.
16.
(Cavan): asked the Minister for Transport and Power (a) if he has any function in the day-to-day running of the semi-State company Shannon Airport Sales and Catering Service; (b) whether he has interfered or intends to interfere either directly or indirectly with a view to influencing the company to terminate a contract for the hire of a coach entered into by said company with Jackson's Garage, Cavan; and (c) whether he approves as a matter of policy of the said company hiring the most suitable coaches available on the best terms obtainable.
The sales and catering service at Shannon is not operated by a semi-State company but is operated on an agency basis under contract by the Comptroller of Sales and Catering. I am responsible for general policy but he is free to operate from day to day on ordinary commercial lines.
I do not intervene in the question of contracts of a commercial character entered into by the service or by a State-sponsored company but in the case to which the Deputy refers, a licence under the Road Transport Act, 1932, would be a prerequisite. Such licence was not sought and if sought would not have been granted.
(Cavan): Is the Minister not aware that no such licence is necessary and that buses are operating all over the country on similar tours without any licence? If a licence was necessary why did the Minister, or his Department, allow this bus to operate openly for the last three weeks from Shannon Airport to Kinvara without being questioned, without any approach from the guards, or any prosecution? Further, is the Minister aware that the operators of this coach received a letter today directing them to cease using this coach and to use CIE coaches only and in the same letter Messrs Jackson's Garage Ltd are thanked for providing an excellent and courteous service? Is the Minister aware that Messrs Jackson's Garage Ltd were providing better vehicles and a better service at a cheaper rate and that if the company concerned at Shannon had their way they would be only too anxious to continue to employ this bus service because it is giving a far better service than the Minister's badly run CIE?
A licence is required and a great many are issued to private operators all over the country. Under the terms of the Road Transport Act, 1932, such a licence is required.
(Cavan): Will the Minister answer my question? Although this coach has been operating on this service for nearly a month, why has no prosecution been brought and why did the guards not approach them?
It was undoubtedly a mistake. The Shannon Free Airport Development Company and the Sales and Catering Service were unaware that the licence provision applied. They did not apply for a licence and they would not have got it if they had applied.
(Cavan): Is the Minister not aware that similar coaches are doing similar runs all over the country, to places such as Knock, to football matches, to the Spring Show, and various national events, without licences?
And even with farmers to Leinster House.
(Cavan): I challenge the Minister to produce any authority to show that a licence is necessary and I challenge the Minister to bring a prosecution. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I propose, with your permission, Sir, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy in the course of the day.