Vol. 414 No. 2
4 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications when it is anticipated that the Bus Competition Bill will be published; whether recent leaked reports of the Bill, as to its contents, are correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he is considering the privatisation of all or part of either Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann or of any of the routes which they now operate; if his attention has been drawn to the concern being expressed by trade unions representing workers in these companies about his reported plans; if he has met or intends to meet the unions to discuss his plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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.
In relation to this promised legislation, will the Minister outline a specific time-table for it? Will the licensing authority be the Department or some new authority? Will the Minister give an assurance to the House that he will avoid the type of free-for-all there was in Britain which resulted in fewer people using public transport in certain instances? Will he ensure that there is uniformity of competition, so that Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus will not be unfairly undermined?
I hope to have the legislation in the next session. The Deputy asked whether my Department or another authority will be the licensing authority. I am thinking of another authority, but I ask the Deputy not to hold me to that because I have not finalised my thinking on it. I agree with the Deputy with regard to the position in the UK which I studied carefully. I am not interested in buses racing each other to bus stops and acting like pirates. I am interested in the orderly, sensible, phased introduction of competition. That is the objective of the proposed legislation.
The Chair is anxious to dispose of the remaining question, if time permits. Time is fast running out for priority questions today.
When this legislation is in operation does the Minister envisage Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann being the largest operators in the country?
I do not want to indicate in advance what the market may do. I envisage Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann continuing to have a major role to play in public transport but I also envisage a substantial role for the private sector. Then it is up to the marketplace.
Has the Minister given consideration to job losses?
Yes.
