Private Buses?

The elephant is moving closer and closer to the sofa, closer to An Taoiseach. It has moved away from the centre of the room and the unions are getting worried. The elephant has plonked its bottom onto the soft leather furnishings and Mr Cowen sits up with a jolt and starts to pay attention. Mr Union is getting more and more angry as the elephant wraps its trunk around him. Not only is the elephant in the room - it's within breathing distance to the government. The blindingly obvious suddenly occurs to An Taoiseach. Hallaluia!!!


Last night I was listening to RTE Radio One and there was a panel of guests discussing the economy. My attention was pricked as the conversation surrounded the cutbacks and inevitable tax hikes that bring so much 'pain' to us all. I'm not in the least bit an expert (I got a 'C' in Leaving Cert economics) on this topic but I am a an Irish citizen and feel compelled to reflect on the crisis hitting Ireland at the present.

One subject I know something about, however, is public transport. I wrote about buses, in the Chronical, earlier this year and expressed my anger and annoyance on the rather poor service that Dubliners are faced with. The latest move that Dublin Bus have made is to further restrict the routes that many thousands have to avail of continually. My question is: how in the name of God is the state in a position to throw millions of euros at the bottomless pit that is our transport system, without this resulting in a better service? It cannot be achieved.

The unions are too awkward and are repressing progress. The status quo has gone on too long. I'm not necessarily saying that everything can benefit from privatisation but in the field of transport it is sorely needed. The minister for finance is looking at making savings by cutting spending and raising taxes but this will only have a limited effect. What I'm saying is that privatisation, for some of our transport at least, must be put up for discussion and acted upon!

A letter carried in yesterday's Guardian (16th June 2009) was written on the subject of our (Irish) economic turmoil. Paul Hunt from West Sussex writes: "...the Irish government has a solution under its nose. The Irish state is the majority owner of the dominant, incumbant electricity and gas businesses. Privatising these business would generate around €5bn. This is the scale of financing to which the government will have to commit to realise its green dream." Something for our leaders to consider. We must be aware of the elephant, that much is certain.
© Ian Callagy 2009