BUS PASSENGERS will be at the centre of a “new transformed national bus licensing regime”, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey promised as he introduced a Bill to create a new licensing system for all public bus services.

The Public Transport Regulation Bill will replace the current antiquated and inadequate regime that has applied for the past 77 years and brings the legislation governing the licensing of commercial bus services into the modern era, Mr Dempsey said.

He said the legislation “establishes a uniform licensing framework for service providers, both private and State bus operators, thus eliminating any differences under the current regime which may have been perceived as conferring a market advantage.

“We are introducing a completely new consumer-centred system for bus operators.”

Changes include the establishment of an independent transport authority, the introduction of public service contracts with quality standards for the provision of subvented transport services, a flexible but fair licensing system for commercial public bus passenger services and transparent regulatory mechanisms to achieve this, Mr Dempsey said.

Fine Gael spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said it was important that there was full and proper debate since it was 77 years since the legislation was changed.

Mr O’Dowd criticised the December 1st deadline on the passage of the legislation. “I cannot understand why, after 77 years, we are rushing this through the House.”

“We in Fine Gael want more buses, more transparency about routes and the subsidisation of public service obligation routes, more frequent buses, more routes and cheaper fares, all of which is possible.”

Labour spokesman Tommy Broughan said his party had profound concerns about how the new National Transport Authority will be structured.