Mr Eamon Gilmore (Labour, Dún Laoghaire) suggested the introduction of a freephone number to curb train vandalism.
He said the travelling public could quietly use a mobile phone to report rowdiness. "Railway company staff, or the Garda, could then board the train at the next station to deal with the problem. While I do not consider it necessary to have a strong police presence on trains at all times of day, there are ways of bringing the attention of the appropriate authorities to problems arising in terms of personal safety so that effective action can be taken."
Mr Gilmore said that constituents had complained to him about the reduction in staff and an increase in lawlessness that meant CIÉ was less able to control behaviour on trains and buses. He was speaking during the resumed debate on the Railway Safety Bill.
Complaints had referred to the destruction of public property and a growing fear among the travelling public, especially the old and vulnerable. One constituent had personally witnessed a young man urinate in sight of all, in the middle of the day, on a Dalkey station platform only a few weeks ago.
Another constituent had complained about "a noisy group of brawny youths drinking from beer cans and smoking cigarettes" on a DART train.
Nobody in the carriage had felt able to confront the offenders, nor should the travelling public be expected to do so when there was the possibility of personal injury, he added.
Mr Fergus O'Dowd (FG, Louth) questioned the levels of safety on overcrowded trains, particularly on commuter lines.
"Travelling from Drogheda to Dublin on the commuter line, one has to stand for the entire journey because of overcrowding and one is subject to extremes of temperature, which sometimes cause people to faint. This is completely unacceptable."
